help

i know someone who is in an abusive marriage (in CA), but who refuses to divorce for fear that the abuser will get custody of their child. the person being abused has not recorded or reported any of this abuse but might if he/she knew that when a divorce was filed he/she would get custody. problem is, the abuser never allowed this person to finish school and never allowed completion of citizenship paperwork either. On top of this, the person being abused has generated a lot of debt paying for medical care (unrelated to abuse). I'm no lawyer, but to me it looks as if the abuser has a better chance at getting custody. Abuser has an education, stable job, good credit and has always been a citizen. I want to get a lawyers advice to show the abused person that if he/she reports and records this abuse, he/she has a good chance at winning custody, but because of the circumstances listed above, I'm not 100% sure that he/she would win custody. I need help! Someone please reply soon!

[Law200]

You and she should meet with police and/or social services groups. There is no excuse to continue to deal with the abuse. Best to confont this head on and try to get hardship exceptions to stay.