teenager troubles

My exwife and I divorced when my daughter was 2. We were orded by the court "Joint Managing Conservators". Myself having the right to have physical possession of our daughter and to establish the child's legal domicile. We divorced because of drugs. We were both users before our daughter was born. After which I gave them up. The ex did not. In fact, after I stopped supporting her habit, she started turning tricks for them. She soon moved in with and married her dealer. That was several years ago. As far as I know she is clean now, although I'm not for certain. She did have another child with this man of whom she has custody of now after thier divorce. She has visitation of my daughter every other weekend, alternating holidays and a month during the summer. My daughter is a teenager now. On one such weekend visit, she was allowed by her mother to go to a boys apartment where a party was going on. At this party, my daughter later told me, there were drugs and alcahol. She was sexualy molested by a boy at this party. My daughter says that she was willing and did not want to say no, but that she in no way took part in the drugs or alcahol. She is by the way still a minor. Now, a couple of months later, she has spent the last month with her mom for the summer. She said she wants to marry this boy. I fear she is on her way to becoming another teenage mom. I cannot allow this to happen. She has mentioned moving in with her mom because I won't allow her to talk to this boy. I live in a small town with good values. Her mom lives in a big city apartment complex and lets her do whatever she wants. Her other daughter, at the age of 10 was caught giving a boy of the same age, a sexual favor for money. I don't want my daughter in this environment. But my divorce decree states that I must honor her visitation. What if anything can I do to stop this? She is 15. Does she now have the right to choose, at this age, where she wants to live? Is there any legal action I can take? Also her mom has not help out with the financial upbringing. Is it too late to file for child support? Teenagers can be very expensive. Thanks , Desperate in Texas

[This message has been edited by MrMom (edited July 06, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by MrMom (edited July 06, 2000).]

I am a law school graduate. What I offer is mere information, not to be construed as forming an attorney client relationship.

Well, you can bring a motion to the court by getting a family law attorney to bring one on your behalf. (try attorneypages.com or call your state bar and ask for lawyer referral). You need to bring a motion for child support (either increasing it or actually getting it). Also, if you feel your ex wife is not being a good mother (enabling your child to do harmful things, i.e. harming your daughter), then you need to bring a motion to amend the original court ordered visitation.

Simple as that. There will be a battle, but if you love your daughter (and want to protect her before she turns 18 and is no longer a minor), then I suggest you do something ASAP.

Hope this helps. Good luck to you.