My sister is planning to leave her husband after 8 and a half years because he is irresponsible and a bad father. They have four young children. He told her she can leave whenever she likes (i.e. he's DONE with her) but she cannot, what-so-ever take the kids with her. She fears he'll take them and she'll never see/be able to find them ever again. She's in Texas, and it's a common law marriage. He slapped her across the face (only once she says) nine months ago and was neglectful of her health by not making sure she received prenatal care during and after all four of her pregnancies and labors (they use midwives rather than an OBGYN). They don't use birth control and can't afford the kids they have now, let alone any more. She wants to come "back home" for a while until she gets on her feet. We don't want to get involved because we can't be sure he won't get violent and come after us. Otherwise we'd let her come here. She has no money or car of her own, and is afraid to seek help online or from neighbors, least he find out. She hasn't any friends in TX, he won't let her have any. He doesn't want to hold down a job and support his family, he'd rather wander the country trying to start his own church. He takes them with him and they are forced to sleep in parking lots in their car, the children suffer greatly when these excursions occur. She needs help and to get away from him, pronto. Is there any way she can leagally get away from him with the kids?

Well you are sitting on the fence aren't you? She is your sister and needs help and you are afraid he will come after her and the kids??

If you don't want the responsibility, then look up the nearest women's shelter for her and the kids, and send her there.

She needs a lawyer, help her with that, but for heavens sake, if you think your sister is danger, and the children too, then take her in and deal with it!

If you can't do any of this, then call CPS, JUST DO SOMETHING !

Okay, you have posted and told us what is up, so we can only advise on what you can and cannot do. We cannot come and pick her up and the children too, and drop them off in a safe place, that is your what you have to do.

I really don't know what you expect a group of strangers to do, when you yourself are afraid to get involved, and she's your sister, they're your nieces and nephews!

She needs to get away. He cannot keep her from her children, and if he's abusing her and the children, she needs to contact CPS, she needs to go to a woman's shelter since her family won't help her, and she needs to get a lawyer to gain custody of the children. She also needs to get a restraining order against this man. All of this needs to be done legally. There's no other way around this. She needs to establish that these children are at risk staying with their father, and that she's also at risk.

First off. Does she actually have a home address since you mention they travel the country looking to set up a church. Also how do you know they are common law married?