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

My wife and I were divorced in Feb of 2011. Pursuant to Wisconsin Law, we were awarded joint custody, but due to my gender, she was awarded placement. (I'm only a leeeeeetle bit bitter). We were married 19+ years, we have 5 children together, all minors (the eldest turns 18 this weekend).

My visitation was ramrodded down my throat, er, "settled" on 2nd, 4th, and 5th weekends (where applicable). My second child is a 16 year old girl (17 next month) who is a senior in high school, graduating in 3 months.
This daughter has decided (against my advice, but not my opinion) that living with her mother is unbearable. Today she made an aborted attempt to "run away" to my home (across the state line in Illinois), which failed when she missed the last train to Chicago. Upon her return home, the harpy, er, my ex-wife of course threatened her with the police intervention, and of course told her that if I let her in my house she would have me charged with kidnapping, harboring a fugitive, or whatever she could.

Now, of course I have tried (details could be enunciated) to encourage my daughter in every possible way that her immediate goal and primary focus needs to be on finishing high school. According to her AND the shrew, er, ex-wife, the parent with placement, the witch, er, ex-wife (again, just a leeeeetle bitter) has told the child that if she really wants to come and live with me that she will allow it. Of course, every time my daughter expresses the sentiment, the mother (see? I'm making progress, no editorial this time!) reneges.

According to WI law (I represented myself in the divorce, I know WI divorce law so well now that our judge seriously recommended to me post-judgement that I pursue a law degree. He was that impressed), I cannot even petition the court for a review of placement or custody for 2 yrs, thus 2/13. However, I've done some research on this site and others, and found information about "emancipation" sketchy and varied. As I understand what I have been able to cull without having the actual statute books, there is no such thing in WI, unless a minor marries. However, I have also seen information suggesting that the minor child may file a petition with the court to have a Guardian Ad-Litem (and PLEASE, don't get me started on the farce of that office, we had one in our divorce that was about as competent as a cow suffering from wasting disorder) appointed, and that the minor child may petition the court to revisit the custodial/placement arrangement (since I myself do not have legal standing by statute to do so at this time).

I am of course concerned about the welfare of all my children, and despite my personal feelings about the mental and emotional health of their mother and her efficacy as a parent, I have vociferously urged all of them to obey, respect, and honor her in every possible way. But, as a Dad who loves his kids, I selfishly want them with me.

So...I'm not completely indigent, but neither am I a man of great means. I would be willing to hire a family law attorney, IF I thought there were a real chance at meaningful change in the situation. Due to the fact that I live in Illinois, and the minor children live in Wisconsin (actual distance right about 100 miles, if the arbitrary state line on the map is ignored), I have some questions about the possibility/benefits of filing motions in one state as opposed to the other; my assumption being that I am bound to the state of Wisconsin due to the divorce court and residency of the children. Is that a permanent deal? Or come 2/13, may motions be filed by me IN Illinois, for instance.

Also, should my child run away (and succeed), I would of course inform the ex-wife of her location and safety. I *DO* have joint custody, so can I rightfully be charged with a crime? SURELY I can not, as a custodial parent, be expected to send my child out into the street if she showed up at my door...? I of course would not go to WI and transport my child TO my home, nor would I fund the escape, or be involved in any other way. So I'm confused about what my criminal liability would be. To follow up on that scenario, if the ex-wife sent the local police to my house, do they have jurisdiction/standing to themselves remove the child from my home and hold/retain her? If so for how long? And what penalties might the child incur? I can't imagine that, for instance, she could be remanded into foster care when a custodial parent is willing to lodge said child.

I wholeheartedly appreciate any competent and valid information that any member of this community can verify and substantiate by statute. I offer my profuse thanks in advance to any who would read and respond to this post.

oh, and to follow up, one of the many threats made by my ex-wife to our daughter was that she (the child) would be forced to pay the Amber Alert fees. If my wife failed to contact me or the child, or, upon having made contact and knowing the location, if she still filed an Amber Report situation with the police, would she not be committing a crime of her own?