Legal Question in Family Law in West Virginia

Re: A Child's Rights

It sounds as if the dysfunctional family life

already impacted upon your fiance.

She's lived 17-1/2 years in it, another

6 months should not be so bad -- unless she is in physical danger, which she doesn't seem to be.

The difficulty

is, of course, that when you are young, each day

can feel like an eternity. But it isn't, it's

only a day.

The courts are likely to make the situation worse.

What if they remove her from the home and place her somewhere else until she reaches 18.

Then you would know what unhappiness is really like.

Concentrate on doing things which will help both

of you to grow into productive adults. You sound already on the way. You took action. You had a question and asked it. That's good.

Complaining, though, is generally a waste of time.

Do not become a complaint enabler.

That's as bad as enabling an alcoholic to drink.

The difference although very subtle is not great.

Be careful what you do as a couple. Look at the

divorce rates, singles mothers, falsely accused

fathers.

Wait a while before you make lifetime decisions such as marrying.

Take time to learn whether either of you can

hold a job sufficient to pay rent, food, and

clothing, etc.

Take your time. There's no hurry. The world is

going nowhere. You can add to its population later down the road.

Take time to savor single life before each of you burden yourselves

with married life. Do not look at teenage

marriage as a panacea for teenage woes abd

verbally abusive and alcoholic parents.