Teen Daughter Needs Help

[confused parent]

I have a 15 year old daughter that has been living with her 2 younger sister at their Dad's home. She has had it there for the following reasons..
He and his fiance' went thru her clothes while she was at school and with me, including her underwear drawer. Not because they are afraid she is doing something, but because they think she is bringing things to my house from there. He foundled her while she was in bathing suit and he was intoxicated. He is a very controlling and verbally abusive man, I will not go into all of it. My question is, in the state of Illinois, can she at 16 move out of his house and it not get her considered a runaway, or get me into custody interference? My father got sick with cancer and mom had a blod clot hit her brain and caused serious damage and we have been unable to continue to pay atty fees so we are at a loss, but she needs help. Will the court appoint her an attorney? Can she move out and get an order of protection on her own if she is moving in with me or other family member? Please help, she has been locking herself in her room and crying daily.

[Gbyte]

She should talk to a school counselor and ask for help. That's the best advice I can give.

Anyone else??

[confused parent]

She is scared to do that, she has in the past but they go to school where he did, and he knows almost everyone there. She did talk to principal but no much was accomplished. DCFS has been worthless in helping them, despite their continuous admission of being scared and his verbal put downs and scare tactics

[confused parent]

I guess basically what I want to know is, if she moves out of the house on her own free will (like she is planning) will she be considered a runaway and forced to go back, or can she refuse to go back and file an OP

[tbyte]

You can ask for a change of custody.
The court will appoint a guardian ad litem to interview her and represent her best interests.
I doubt she will be considered a runaway if her whereabouts are known, and you have some legal claim to her (shared parenting hopefully, or at least some court-ordered visitation).
At 16, no court would fault you for not forcing her out of your house. No police officer would physically force her out of your house. No one would fault you for preventing the father from physically forcing her out of your house.
You cannot prevent her from returning to her father's house, but if he shows up at your door it is up to him to convince her to go with him willingly.

[ensanity]

What she needs to do is call or better yet go to the Child Protection Services in her area. Explain the situation to them, especially since he has put his hands on her ( and that needs to be told- VERY IMPORTANT). She needs to tell them everything that is going on in the house and that she is scared to stay there because of the incident with him touching her. Let them also know that he is abusive. That would be the first step. Also, if they are getting any kind of assistance from the government such as through the Department of Social Services, she needs to also talk to them. Hope this information is helpful and the best of luck.