17 yr old stepdaughter dropped out of high school

[lovingstepmom]

What is the name of your state? Florida

My husband and I currently have custody of his 17yr old daughter. She moved in with us in 2005. In 2/2007 she was placed on restrictions and had her car taken away for skipping school. She went to stay with her mother "to visit" to get out of being on restrictions. My husband repeatedly tried to get her to come home. She began spending time in both households. She went back and forth with no set schedule. School began Aug 20,2007. At that time her mother allowed her to drive her stepfathers truck. She was told she was not allowed to come to our home in the truck. The original plan was for her to stay with us during the week because we live close to school. Well because she wanted to be able to drive that arrangement did not pan out. She has not spent the night with us since school started. We were served on 10/16/07 with a petition for modification filed by the exwife. She wants child support back to 2/2007. I did some research and spoke with the school on 10/16 because we received an attendance warning that stated my stepdaughter had missed 25 days out of about 40 total school days. The attendance principal said she was going to fail the first 9 weeks of the semester for attendance failure. At that point I began the response to the petition. My husband wanted his daughter to stay with us during the school week so that we could take her to and from school. We all know how important it is to graduate from high school, and we had to this once before when she was caught skipping. Well...today I called the attendance office to find out if she had been to school this past week and I was told she had been withdrawn from school and was no longer a student. My husband is beyond himself, we are very very upset. We have a court date for 11/6/07. The problem is she has abused her driving privledges and her mother is not doing anything about it. Her mother is only interested in obtaining child support. Any suggestions on what we should do now?

 

[Zigner]

Any suggestions on what we should do now?

If I were you, I'd start by butting out of a situation which you have no standing in. YOU do not have custody of the teenager. Your Husband does. You are a legal stranger and have no rights at all in this.

Can you accept that?

 

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

The stepdaughter driver's license can be pulled since she is under 18 AND not in school.

 

[lovingstepmom]

lovingstepmom's reply

First....I know that I am only the stepmom in this situation. I have raised my husbands 2 daughters for over 15 years. My husband works alot and I am doing the research to help him with this case. There is a long long history of litigation in this case (10 years worth) and we are Pro Se. I am computer literate, my husband is not, that is why I am here asking for help. I have been involved from day 1 and everything that happens effects me as well. I love my step children and only want what is best for them. SO..thank you for making it so clear that I needed to but out..but I can't. I am here asking for help, advise and information.

 

[lovingstepmom]

The stepdaughter driver's license can be pulled since she is under 18 AND not in school.

I know...what should I do to make that happen? contact to division of Driver licenses?

 

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

Parent's Consent for Minors
If you are under 18 and are not married, your license application must be signed by one parent or legal guardian. STEP-PARENTS MAY NOT SIGN FOR YOU UNLESS THEY HAVE LEGALLY ADOPTED YOU. The application must be signed in front of the examiner or a notary public. Whoever signs your application agrees to take responsibility with you for your driving. If the signer decides later not to accept responsibility for your driving, your license will be canceled. To cancel the license, the signer must write a letter to the department. The full name and date of birth of the minor driver must be in the letter.
PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Signing this form constitutes consent for the minor to also obtain an operator license at age 16 or older, unless you notify the Department that you wish to withdraw this consent.
REMEMBER: THE CONSENT FORM MUST BE NOTARIZED OR SIGNED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE EXAMINER.

 

[Ohiogal]

I know...what should I do to make that happen? contact to division of Driver licenses?

YOu cannot do anything. What YOUR HUSBAND can do is file a motion asking the court to give dad full legal custody and requiring child to attend high school until she reaches the age of 18.

 

[majomom1]

Original post by: lovingstepmom
What is the name of your state? Florida

My husband and I currently have custody of his 17yr old daughter. She moved in with us in 2005. In 2/2007 she was placed on restrictions and had her car taken away for skipping school. She went to stay with her mother "to visit" to get out of being on restrictions. My husband repeatedly tried to get her to come home. She began spending time in both households. She went back and forth with no set schedule. School began Aug 20,2007. At that time her mother allowed her to drive her stepfathers truck. She was told she was not allowed to come to our home in the truck. The original plan was for her to stay with us during the week because we live close to school. Well because she wanted to be able to drive that arrangement did not pan out. She has not spent the night with us since school started. We were served on 10/16/07 with a petition for modification filed by the exwife. She wants child support back to 2/2007. I did some research and spoke with the school on 10/16 because we received an attendance warning that stated my stepdaughter had missed 25 days out of about 40 total school days. The attendance principal said she was going to fail the first 9 weeks of the semester for attendance failure. At that point I began the response to the petition. My husband wanted his daughter to stay with us during the school week so that we could take her to and from school. We all know how important it is to graduate from high school, and we had to this once before when she was caught skipping. Well...today I called the attendance office to find out if she had been to school this past week and I was told she had been withdrawn from school and was no longer a student. My husband is beyond himself, we are very very upset. We have a court date for 11/6/07. The problem is she has abused her driving privledges and her mother is not doing anything about it. Her mother is only interested in obtaining child support. Any suggestions on what we should do now?

She is not allowed to come to your house? in step father's truck? That is unacceptable to me, as a mother. No child should ever be told they are not allowed to come to their parent's home.

She was withdrawn from school, and is no longer a student? Were her records transferred to another school?

I really don't see mom NOT doing anything about this, she did make arrangements for her to get to school...

Why do you automatically assume she is only interested in the child support?

 

[Zigner]

I know...what should I do to make that happen? contact to division of Driver licenses?

You don't get it.
You should do NOTHING. This is DAD'S responsibility.

Butt out.

EDIT:
If laws are being violated by the teenager not attending school, then the school district will report it to the DMV.
However, it IS possible that mom has allowed and signed off on the child leaving school.

 

[lovingstepmom]

You don't get it.
You should do NOTHING. This is DAD'S responsibility.

Butt out.

EDIT:
If laws are being violated by the teenager not attending school, then the school district will report it to the DMV.
However, it IS possible that mom has allowed and signed off on the child leaving school.

why are you being so rude? Her father is doing everything possible, I am only researching the subjects and gathering information. If you have nothing else to say except Butt Out...then find someone else to be rude to. MY god I am only trying to help!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Silverplum]

No one is being RUDE to you.

YOU are being dense. You post things such as, "What can **I** do?" regarding the child's driver's license. YOU can't do anything, because you are a legal stranger.

The CORRECT answer is: DAD is the only one who can do anything.

WHY would it be best for Zig to LIE to you????

why are you being so rude? Her father is doing everything possible, I am only researching the subjects and gathering information. If you have nothing else to say except Butt Out...then find someone else to be rude to. MY god I am only trying to help!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Zigner]

why are you being so rude? Her father is doing everything possible, I am only researching the subjects and gathering information. If you have nothing else to say except Butt Out...then find someone else to be rude to. MY god I am only trying to help!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, you can help. But, every step of the way, you are inserting yourself (you used the word "we" over and over again). This is not a good thing.
Help, yes. But don't "interfere".

 

[lovingstepmom]

She is not allowed to come to your house? in step father's truck? That is unacceptable to me, as a mother. No child should ever be told they are not allowed to come to their parent's home. I agree, but mother is BiPolar are very vengful. She has done so many sick thing over the past few years that nothing she does shocks me. She really is an unstable person.

She was withdrawn from school, and is no longer a student? Were her records transferred to another school? No ...she was withdrawn on 10/25/07 by her mother.

I really don't see mom NOT doing anything about this, she did make arrangements for her to get to school... Yes, she did. she let her borrow her stepdads truck..then told her she could not visit her father while driving it

Why do you automatically assume she is only interested in the child support?

becasue we have been to court so many times over the past ten years the court file cannot even be carried in by the judge. She is only interested in the money I assure you. I know this from dealing with her for all these years.

 

[Zigner]

becasue we have been to court so many times over the past ten years the court file cannot even be carried in by the judge. She is only interested in the money I assure you. I know this from dealing with her for all these years.

You have never been to court for this. Your HUSBAND has. You may have accompanied him, but if Mom were smart, she would have requested long ago that you be removed from the proceedings.

 

[majomom1]

lovingstepmom Quote:

Originally Posted by majomom1
She is not allowed to come to your house? in step father's truck? That is unacceptable to me, as a mother. No child should ever be told they are not allowed to come to their parent's home.

I agree, but mother is BiPolar are very vengful. She has done so many sick thing over the past few years that nothing she does shocks me. She really is an unstable person.
She was withdrawn from school, and is no longer a student? Were her records transferred to another school? No ...she was withdrawn on 10/25/07 by her mother.

I really don't see mom NOT doing anything about this, she did make arrangements for her to get to school...

Yes, she did. she let her borrow her stepdads truck..then told her she could not visit her father while driving it

Why do you automatically assume she is only interested in the child support?

becasue we have been to court so many times over the past ten years the court file cannot even be carried in by the judge. She is only interested in the money I assure you. I know this from dealing with her for all these years.

Sorry... I got the part about WHO said she was not allowed to drive to Dad's home.... And I still contend that is wrong even on Mom's part...

You still didn't say whether mom enrolled her in another school... or not, do you know for sure?

A large court file also means lots of attorney fees too...