Q: My children are being abused physically and emotionally by their mother. What are my options?
She has primary custody but neither of the kids want to live with her. They are afraid if she finds out they told me before action is taken that she will be more abusive towards them. Their grandparents can confirm what they are saying and I have several texts from the kids as well.
A:
Every person is a mandatory reporter of child abuse. If you believe a child is being abused or neglected in Nebraska, you have a duty to report it to the Nebraska Child Abuse hotline.
A parent can file for an emergency custody order to be awarded emergency temporary custody of a child that is being abused by the custodial parent. Generally this is filed at the same time as a modification action asking the court to modify the custody order.
A: You should call the hotline or law enforcement to report this. You may also file for a modification of custody in order to obtain custody of your children. What the children want is a consideration, but not determinate. However, if the treatment by mom rises to the level of abuse and there is credible evidence to support that allegation, the Court will take it seriously. You should at least consult with an attorney experienced with custody modification and abuse issues to confidentially discuss the specifics and your options. Best wishes as you navigate this difficult situation!
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
