Okay, so I have a really close friend who is always being treated badly by her mother. Her mother smacks her for no reason, leaves her alone at home with her 5 year old sister, has beat her to the floor, and other things. My friend has been treated badly by that side of the family and always wanted to move in with her Aunt, her aunt use to have custody for her but I believe the custody was then given to her mom. She feels uncomfortable at home and has already tried to commit suicide, I want to know the legal rights in New York City, is she allowed to leave to her Aunt or is that considered runaway? What if she tells the cops or the court why she ran away and she has witnesses? My mother, her father and her aunt, and of course me, we know everything her mom does to her, we just can't do anything about. However I'm trying to help. So please answer this question, as soon as possible.

This is something adults can look into and handle.

Agree, too many questions too. Why did the mother get custody back from the aunt?

Section III: Legal Rights & Responsibilities of Youth (http://www.empirestatecoalition.org/main/legal/rights.html)

The aunt and/or your parents can report this to Child Protectve Services. Your friend can't just get up and leave.

Correct, your friend can't just leave. And if the aunt allows her to move in, the aunt can get in trouble.

Your friend needs to go a counselor at school or the school nurse and report the physical abuse. Have her go immediately after a beating so she can show the bruises. She should let her aunt know her plans so the aunt can let Family Services know she is willing to foster her.

The school is required to report this to Family Services. They will investigate and remove your friend from the house if the abuse is confirmed.

If it's that bad then it should be reported and done legally.

I agree with Scott, your friend needs to report it at school as that is the safest route to take. If anyone else gets involved as in reporting it and nothing comes of it the mother and child may disappear. That is not what you nor anyone wants. She has to get up the courage to report it.

You say in your post that her father is aware of this.


My mother, her father and her aunt, and of course me, we know everything her mom does to her

Why isn't her father doing something about this? Of all the people that could help, he's the most logical choice as he's her father.

You say in your post that her father is aware of this.


My mother, her father and her aunt, and of course me, we know everything her mom does to her

Why isn't her father doing something about this? Of all the people that could help, he's the most logical choice as he's her father.

She can of course talk to her aunt, that can talk to her mother and try to work things out. Also depends on "treated badly" as to any legal avenues. But no, if mother has custody she can not just move, her mother would have to allow, or the courts would have to change custody