My question involves a child custody case from the State of: TEXAS.
I live in Houston and my daughter and her mother live in Austin, where the court orders are. She is 17yrs old in her last year of school but has for some time wanted to live with me. In one way or another, the mother has isolated her from me throughout the entire 17 years. I rarely see her, the relationship with the mother is non-existent. I tried many times over the years to exercise my visitation rights at a court ordered meeting place, but each time I did, the mother had an excuse not to make it, was extremely late or just flat out did not come. The mother regularly changes the phone numbers and has made it virtually impossible for me to have a healthy relationship with my daughter. I had no other recourse, so I gave up since I don't have big money to get an attorney to file a motion for custody and for non-compliance with the visitation. Shameful yes, but what else can I do, the system is geared for the woman and the rich. That is a bit of frustration coming through, sorry.
Many times my daughter has called me at work, that is the only way we converse, to tell me of the problems she is having. Physical as well as emotional, I don't want to say abuse, but what other word can I use if not that? Sure they(children) will complain when being disciplined, she is a child and what child has not complained about the tyrant parent (in their minds) when being disciplined. But when I see pictures of physical abuse, been called while police are at the house investigating a fight between the two on multiple occasions, sometimes involving weapons, my spidey sense tingles... I talk with the police and they chalk it up to a mother daughter dispute which happens and they leave. I even went so far as to call CPS in Austin to have them investigate. I inform them of my situation and that the call IS NOT a vindictive one, just a call for help and to ensure that my child is safe and nothing else. Same result nothing, all cases closed. I called CPS three separate times over 5yrs when there was evidence to show.
That is pretty much the situation, but my questions are:
What can I do?
How can I go about doing this, if at all?
Is there anything that could preclude her from coming to live with me at the age of 17?
Although we can't afford 3-5k retainer fees and the like, is it possible for me to gain custody and can I do this on my own?
My wife and I live an active, suburban family life with two children of our own; however, because of my daughter's upbringing we are apprehensive. But, due to the fact that she's a child AND my daughter, we have concluded that we should intervene.
Please help, I am really scared for my daughter and want what's best for her. The mother has expressed to my daughter that she wants her to leave, but I fear that is just the mother acting out of anger and may fight this if I am able to find a legal footing to make this happen. My daughter has valid fears for her safety and is crying out for help, but no one in an official capacity will entertain her or her story.
What can I do?

