I'm Under Age and I Do Not Think That Anyone Has Custody of Me

My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Florida

I am 16.

My two grandmothers have had joint custody of me since before I can remember. They both faught each other for years over it and finally settled on that much. This started probably about when I was 1-2 years old. Around the age of four I went to live with my mother, though my grandmas still held gaurdianship. I lived with my mother until I was 14 and when I finally got tired of her outrageous irresponsible behavoir, I moved in with my 27 year old sister. My mother signed a Power Of Attorney for my sister, but without my mother having custody of me, was she really allowed to do that? That would be a forged gaurdianship, correct? So in all honesty my sister has no power over me. Well a year after moving in with my sister, one of my grandmothers passed away. My other grandmother had cancer and we talked many times about her signing over custody to my sister, but she passed away before anything was signed. Now, who do I legally belong to? There are many problems with me living with my sister and I wish to emancipate myself soon and move out but first I need a clearer understanding of who or WHAT has custody of me. My mother does not claim me and I don't wish her to. My friends mother debated with me about the matter and said that I belonged to the state and if anyone were to discover my predicament they could send me off to wherever they wished. Any help?? Please and thank you _michelle :wallbang:

Custody would usually revert back to your natural parents, provided their parental rights haven't been terminated. Why was custody changed to your grandparents in the first place?

Where is your father?

Regarding emancipation - are you working? Fully supporting yourself?

I work everyday Monday-Saturday after school but I do not currently support myself. I am willing to work as hard as I possibly can to do so.

My mother and my father were cocaine addicts and when I moved with my mother which now that I think of it was more around age 7, she was with my ex-step father who was mentally abusive and my mother is a registered alcoholic who I have watch attempt to kill herself. Custody was removed from her. My father has never once payed child support or had anything to do with my life.; I met him one time about a year ago.

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Quoting michelleguthrie

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I work everyday Monday-Saturday after school but I do not currently support myself. I am willing to work as hard as I possibly can to do so.

My mother and my father were cocaine addicts and when I moved with my mother which now that I think of it was more around age 7, she was with my ex-step father who was mentally abusive and my mother is a registered alcoholic who I have watch attempt to kill herself. Custody was removed from her. My father has never once payed child support or had anything to do with my life.; I met him one time about a year ago.

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You and your sister, and preferably your mother, all need to get a consult with an attorney ASAP about your unusual situation. You can get a very low cost consult by calling the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-342-8011 or on line at http://www.floridabar.org/divpgm/lro...rral6?OpenForm

Uhhh, are there any other suggestions? Please!!!

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Quoting michelleguthrie

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Uhhh, are there any other suggestions? Please!!!

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Seriously, Xena gave you appropriate advice.

This is something that I am trying to do myself, without their knowledge. Like I said my goal is to emancipate myself. I'm giving myself about a year to get everything ready for that but it's more of a personal thing. More recently it has become too much of a disturbance to stay with my sister, which is why this is such an urgent matter to me. I'm lost and have no idea where to start. I have told both of them that I am tired of my life and that I plan on moving on, but my plans are unknown to my sister and my mother.

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Quoting michelleguthrie

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This is something that I am trying to do myself, without their knowledge. Like I said my goal is to emancipate myself. I'm giving myself about a year to get everything ready for that but it's more of a personal thing. More recently it has become too much of a disturbance to stay with my sister, which is why this is such an urgent matter to me. I'm lost and have no idea where to start. I have told both of them that I am tired of my life and that I plan on moving on, but my plans are unknown to my sister and my mother.

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Do you understand what emancipation actually means?

It's meant for situations such as (to paraphrase cbg) "My parents were both killed in a plane crash - I need to be legally emancipated so I can pay the bills, sign a lease and look after my younger siblings".

You just are not going to be able to do this by yourself - you, your sister and/or your legal parent/s NEED an attorney.

I want to present the case in front of a judge, yes, at some point. But for right now I am slowly working them into that. My mother lives six hours away and she has nothing to do with my life anyways.

In Florida, you not only cannot do this by yourself, if your parent or legal guardian does not sign the petition, emancipation is a no-go. You CANNOT be emancipated in Florida unless the parent or legal guardian is the one who files the petition. It is IMPOSSIBLE to do it by yourself or without their knowledge.