Hello,
We live in Miami Florida. My 9 year old step daughter has been wanting to live with me and er dad for 4 years now. She says she will do or say whatever she needs in order for her wish to be granted. Unfortunately, she lives with her mother and her mother has phisically and mentally bused her the past couple of years. My husband has already reported this to DCF but nothing happened.
How else cn we go about this? No we do not have the funds to hire an attorney? Do childre have any rights in Florida if they are able to speak for temselves?

Please help?:confused:

Sue for custody.

(Question moved from Introductions to more appropriate topic area in order to get more exposure.)

Well you can go to the legal aid society and see if they will help you.

But he will have to sue for custody in court, the girl and then testify who she wants to live with.

But mother will also get to testify on what she things is best, as well as father testify what he things is best.

Then it will be up to the judge to decide.

Another way to go about it if there has been abuse ( that you are positive of ) is to ask for custody and get a parental evaluation done by the courts. They will make recommendations and its fairly involved but you can get better results. Also be careful with her wanting to say anything to get her way.. in the end that could be dangerous to all of you should she make a false accusation that could have her being shipped to children's services and both parents with no child.