My ex husband moved in with his just now turning 17 year old girlfriend he's 25. We have a 4 year old daughter together who they don't mind taking baths together in front of. I've caught my daughter doing things to herself. I want my daughter out of that home is their anything I can do?

First to address the age of consent in Louisiana; if the girl-friend is seventeen years of age he would not be found in violation of statutory rape laws in Louisiana.

Generally, in all divorces that involve children there is a court ordered, or agreed upon, custody arrangement documented and filed with the court. If you feel your child is at risk under the current custody arrangement, there are legal steps you can take to change it.

What is Abuse/Neglect?

The Louisiana Children’s Code provides the following definitions of abuse and neglect:

Abuse means any of the following acts which seriously endanger the physical, mental, or emotional health and safety of the child:

• The infliction, attempted infliction, or as a result of inadequate supervision, the allowance of the infliction or attempted infliction of physical or mental injury upon the child by a parent or any other person.
• The exploitation or overwork of a child by a parent or any other person.
• The involvement of the child in any sexual act with a parent or any other person, or the aiding or toleration by the parent or the caretaker of the child’s sexual involvement with any other person or of the child’s involvement in pornographic displays, or any other involvement of a child in sexual activity constituting a crime under the laws of this state.

Neglect means the unreasonable refusal or failure of a parent or caretaker to supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, care, treatment, or counseling for injury, illness, or condition of the child, as a result of which the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health and safety is substantially threatened or impaired.

Neglect includes prenatal neglect. It is the unlawful use by a mother during pregnancy of a controlled dangerous substance that results in symptoms of withdrawal in the infant or the presence of a controlled substance in the infant’s body.

How do I file a report for Child Abuse or Neglect?

Child protective services are available 24 hours - 7 days a week through this list of hotline numbers. [1]

Child Custody resources:

You may find the resources helpful at these sites

• http://www.custodysource.com/la~1.htm [2]
• http://www.labswe.org/child.htm [3]
• www.LegalMatch.com [4]