Q: My 14yr old son wants to live with me and has asked I undertake steps to initiate a change of residency. Hire an atty?
His mother is not a bad person but he is and has been for some time expressed depression which has recently grown into a feeling of what I can only describe as hopelessness with his current living arrangement. Most of this stems, unfairly as it may be, from his stepfather and the rules by which he runs his household. My son has expressed his fear of expressing himself openly there among other things. He has undergone years of counseling there but this seems to be of little help. In fact, he expressed thoughts of suicide while at school this semester. He asked me today at dinner, “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble,” to try and work this out for him. He also told me he said to his mother that he wanted to live with me “a couple months ago” but was dismissed out of hand. Surprising since she and I have spoken about this possibility numerous times this year. I am concerned for the health and wellbeing of my son.
A: You need to hire an attorney, file a motion to modify residential custody and attach a report from his therapist (or get him in to see a therapist if he doesn’t have one.
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