Q: 13 year old daughter mentally, emotionally and now physically being abused by her dads girl friend Called DCFS no help.
I have been fighting a custody battle for 3 years. My 13 year old daughters father has been absent most of her life now all of a sudden wants to be father of the year. My daughter comes home in tears with the horrible things he has said about me and the mountain of lies and threats against myself and my daughter. His favorite this past 6 months is if she tells anything he will make sure she never sees me again.. She has also been suffering from nightmares and dreams a healthy child should never have. She is a constant anxiety box now always afraid and worried: I have called the police filed harassment. And contacted DCFS. I have gotten no where. Just yesterday i again contacted the police to do a child well check when a few disturbing texts came from my daughter about his girl friend. She also plays her part in childs negative state and it is becoming more aggressive and escalating. She is now locking her in rooms and actually physically attacked her last night/ police didn’t help.
A: You need to file a motion for the appointment of a guardian ad litem (GAL) in your custody case. The GAL is a lawyer appointed by the court to investigate the situation on your daughter's behalf and make recommendations to the court about what to do in regards to parenting time (formerly called custody and visitation). The GAL is likely to interview your daughter, you, your ex and his girlfriend and possibly other people in an attempt to get to the bottom of the matter.
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