How old before the courts listen to the child in a custody case?

[frylover]

The problem is proving that it was StepMom who did it - it sounds like there perhaps wasn't enough to actually prove that adequately.

It's still a very sad situation.

Sad is right

You know, I can't not wrap my brain around how someone could have reason to believe that someone was beating his/her child and think that the solution is to get rid of the child rather than get rid of the offender.

And my fear for this child is that the abuse will start up again on visits once stepmom doesn't feel "threatened" and this little girl won't tell anyone because she's going to feel it won't do any good.

 

[LdiJ]

Sad is right

You know, I can't not wrap my brain around how someone could have reason to believe that someone was beating his/her child and think that the solution is to get rid of the child rather than get rid of the offender.

And my fear for this child is that the abuse will start up again on visits once stepmom doesn't feel "threatened" and this little girl won't tell anyone because she's going to feel it won't do any good.

I really do agree with you 100%.

However, I can also see how a parent might feel pressured into removing one child from a situation over fear of what would happen with the other children.

Maybe dad was scared, nervous, uncertain as to what was going on and reacted in a manner that guaranteed that none of the children would go to foster care, rather than potentially all of them.

I am not excusing dad at all, I am simply acknowledging how it might happen.

 

[frylover]

I really do agree with you 100%.

However, I can also see how a parent might feel pressured into removing one child from a situation over fear of what would happen with the other children.

Maybe dad was scared, nervous, uncertain as to what was going on and reacted in a manner that guaranteed that none of the children would go to foster care, rather than potentially all of them.

I am not excusing dad at all, I am simply acknowledging how it might happen.

If the other children were his, too, I could see how that could be possible. But unless I misread it, the other children are stepmom's kids, not his, which leads me to believe its another sad case of a parent choosing the new spouse over his own child.

 

[Proserpina]

OP did NOT ask if the grandparents could not SEND the child, or if the child could "decide" not to go....she asked would the court possibly listen to the child, which sounds as though they are looking for ways to help this child WITHIN the court system.

Hon, it's danny.

Danny rarely does anything other than parrot what has already been said and go on rants about stepparents and court orders. I'm actually doubtful the threads are even fully read before the response is made.

 

[AkersTile]

Is kiddo currently in kinship placement with the GP's? If that's the case, then it might be possible to do kinship placement with OP/ExStepDad.

Would it be possible that Dad might agree to this?

Someone also NEEDS to tell kiddo that if ANYONE hits her (not just StepMom) she needs to tell an adult that she trusts, whether that adult is a teacher, friend's parent, counselor, GP, anyone!