I know of a girl who will be seventeen on the 25th of this month, her mother put her on a plane to go to her aunts house in Florida, she did live in California. Her mother refuses to help with any financial needs and also, will not relieve custody to the aunt. She will not send her birth certificate, social security card, or any other legal document. This is keeping her from getting a job, becoming enrolled in school, or obtaining an I.D. Her mother is now refusing to take her daughter back, or put her biological father as a legal guardian, or anyone else for that matter. Is that considered child abandonment? If she returned to California, would she be able to become legally responsible for herself? Could she live with who she wanted to at that point?

In this situation I would contact the local police department and they can help you if the aunt wants to take responsibility for her by getting her involved with health and human services in her area. They may be able to get the mother or father to either sign their rights over to the aunt or at the least get in touch with the heath and human services in California to help in the matter.

Its not really child abandonment. Generally that means totally abandoning the child with no supervision or support.

Rather than the local police, I would get children's services involved.

The girl can order a copy of her because from vitalstatistics.com. She can then go to any SSA office to get a copy of her Social Security card.