divorcing ur parents

I am 15 years old and I live in Kentucky. My best friend is 16. She lives with her parents. Her father is abusive and. Her mother does nothing about it. My question is how old do you have to be to chose who you want to live with? She wants to live with her Grandma. Her grandma doesn't have the money to get a lawyer. My friend is no longer allowed to have any contact with her Grandma. Once a week I take my mom's cell phone to school and we call her Grandma. Other than that once she gets home she has no contact with the outside world. We live pretty far out in the country. I want to help my friend. Where do we start? Can the Grandma get a free lawyer?? And if so, how?

The court will listen to your choices at any age but it is not the sole factor. It may be best to meet with social services asap to discuss what problems, or abuse issues exist--they will help counsel and guide without putting pressure on you.

hey...email me at anparker24@yahoo.com and we'll talk more. but for this:

There's some issues she needs to start being sneaky w/ before you jump into court. Make your plan w/ her. Go to the office during the break between classes and WAIT to talk to a counselor. Tell her EVERYTHING. Tell her about the abuse, the no-contact 'law' at her house, etc. Tell her you want her to contact d.s.s. RIGHT THEN & THERE bc if she is at home she will get beat for telling this. Just be honest as possible.

Tell d.s.s. (child welfare services, aka d.c.f., etc etc) all the same ppl. That she has a gma who is willing to take her in and that ur friend plans to file charges on her dad, & mom for neglect. SHE HAS TO ACTUALLY DO THIS if she wants to get out. Chances are d.c.f. will do this but your friend will have to get the ball rolling herself. Trust me; these ppl don't really care about children but the guidance councelor will help. THEY DO CARE. Let the principal know, tell the counselor that you want to talk to him/her too (the prin.) They'll help. Call her gma right then and tell her what's going to happen. Who you're telling and have her come up to the school and talk to the princ., counselor, call the cops, & d.c.f.

your friend is old enough to charge her parents herself and will prob. get that answer from the cops. you are in kentucky. have her talk to the cops and have them go get her clothes. She doesn't need a lawyer to file a petition for emancipation from her parents. All she has to do is go to the family court and fill out a "petition" for emancipation and they will set a court date; w/ the dcf papers, etc it will be easier to get it. This will mean that she no longer is relying on her parents for shelter, etc but they should still be made to pay child support to her gma. Her gma will have to go to court w/ her for her to prove she has somewhere to live and someone safe to live with.

Tell her good luck. Write my email. Does she get to use the comp?