Children and the Law

Typically eighteen years old, unless married, in the military, or by court order.

However, at 17 the only thing the cops can make you do is contact your parents or guardians and tell them that your ok and where your at. They will not force a 17-year-old back home.

• It is a fallacy that attending school negates the state's legal age, and that parents do not have legal recourse. The parent(s) or legal guardian can file a requisition motion in court to have the minor returned to their custody. Or they can petition the court to be released from their parental rights.The reason police do not get involved is such behavior is considered a civil infraction not a criminal offense. If authorities are presented with a court order they must take the minor into custody and follow the instructions issued in the requisition order. That could mean returning the minor to the family home or to a juvenile facility to await a hearing in juvenile court. Parents have the legal right to request assistance to have the minor child returned to their custody because they are legally and financially responsible until said minor reaches the legal age of 18 or until a court rules otherwise. The legal process noted does not pertain to a minor who moves from the custodial parent's residence to the non-custodial parent's residence.

• If the authorities come and pick up a minor they can only take you back to the minors house. the parents can put the minor into a jouvenile facility and the minor cannot check himself out at the age of 18. the minor has to stay in until he/she graduates or whatever tells the parents or the minor at the time.

• I am 17 I'll be 18 0n Jan 19 33 more days I left on Sept 16 and was reported as a runaway, peronally the best advice i can give everyon is bite your toungue until you are 18 years old. I know how everyone on here reading this feels as you search around for things desperately wanting to know the truth and you find 20 DIFFERENT responses to your one question so you stay curious because you are not sure whether the responses are accurate or not so be patient and when you turn 18 give those you love a big hug bye.

Therefore, the normal age for leaving home without parental permission is 18. However, you can get legally emancipated from your parents as early as 16. This is not an easy process.

Here is more input:

• The age of majority is 18. However a minor may petition the court under Tesax Family Code. Chapter 13, Sec. 31.001 for "Removal of Disability of a Minor" (emancipation). There are several requirements that have to be met combined with valid documentation, before early emancipation will be considered.

• The police department in my hometown actually gave my father permission to kick me out when I was 17. From the research I am doing for my younger sister, I have found out Texas does not have an "emancipation", but something similar to it. If you are 16, to become "emancipated", you have to live on your own. From this, I gather you can move out on your own at 16 because it is one of the coniditions to gain "emancipation" when you are 16 but, for some reason, it is not a requirement when you are 17.

• The legal age of majority for the state is 18. In cases where the minor has been found to be incorrigible a judge will allow the parents to relinquish their financial and legal responsiblility to said minor child. The police will not intervene if the minor is at least 17, and their whereabouts are known and they are not considered to be in a harmful environment. To have a minor who is at least 17-years of age involuntarily returned to parental custody requires a requisition order from the court. A court order is not needed to involve authorities if the minor is under 17-years of age or if the circumstances of the minor's absence are not clear and the whereabouts are unknown, (AMBER Law). If the minor has left the home of a custodial parent to reside with the non-custodial parent, it is a matter for family court and authorities will not intervene.

• 18 but legal emmancipation is possible if you can prove to the courts you can solely support yourself AND continue school. Proving is extremely difficult. Your parents have the right to force you to live under their roof until 18.

• Texas compulsory education law requires a minor to attend school until they reach their 18th birthday. If the minor is in school at the time they turn 18 they are usually required to finish the school year. Therefore, a 17 years old would be returned to the family home or become a ward of the court depending upon circumstances.

• The legal age in Texas is 17. I am 17 and moved out of a good home just wanted to be on my own, parent was against it completely. The police asked me to call and tell my mother where i was and that i was okay. The police cannot take you unless there is proof that you are unsafe, or unable to care for yourself. I know many people who hate their fanily life and I would suggest that you have a good place to live and really think about what is best for you in the long run.

• The age at which a person is considered an adult in the state is 18, not 17.

The 17-years of age pertains to two other issues, the age at which the person may have consensual sex, and the age at which a person can be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses. Texas law enforcement will not get involved in a situation where a minor leaves home w/o parental permission, until that person's parents or guardian file a request and receive a order of requisition from the court to have the minor returned to their custody or the custody of juvenile authorities. Furthermore, any person(s) who aid a minor in such circumstances such as allowing them to live in their home, renting them a room, assisting in transportation, etc. can be held criminally and civilly responsible for contributing to the delinquency of said minor. (TS/TFC Title 2)

• The legal age of majority for the state is 18. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Title 5, Chapter 129.

• It is possible. The legal age of majority is 18 but Texas police apparently do not generally return a 17-year-old to their parents by force.

• Probably. Texas is an usual case. The age of majority is still 18, so you can't officially move out and live on your own with parental content. But apparently Texas police generally don't force 17-year-olds to move back.

• While I believe the laws say that a 17 year old in Texas who has not been in trouble with the law CAN move out on their own, and may not have the truancy laws apply to them - the "freedom" picture in their head is not truly what it appears.

Well, you're probably in for a painful lesson: getting out on your own is a bigger drag. It might seem fun in your head, but landlords and electric companies couldn't care less what it takes for you to pay bills, and they will kick you out and turn your lights off - without hesitation, without feeling, without remorese. You're a figure on their accounts ledger - period.

And the chances of you finishing high school? Not so good. You'll be far too busy working to pay for the freedom you wanted so bad. School may become your second priority, and then your third, fourth, until it's just too big of a drag... you may find that you've sabotaged your future for a little "freedom" right now.

• The legal age of majority is 18. But there seems to be a loophole in Texas. Apparently the police in Texas will not force a 17-year-old to return home to their parents, if they seem to be taking care of themselves.

• Texas seems to be an unusual case. The legal age of majority is 18. So, technically, you need parental consent to leave home before you are 18. However, Texas police will apparently not force a 17-year-old to go home unless there are special circumstances.

• Right. that is the LEGAL MAJORITY BUT...if you are 17 and attending school, in the state of Texas the cops cannot make you go back home nor can ur parents file you as a runaway ...they can make you call your parents and tell them where you are at and that you are okay that is it. the only stipulation is that you MUST be attending school.

• I respectfully disagree, the legal age of majority is for the specific enforcement of the application of parental responsibilities toward their minor children. Parent(s) or legal guardians can be held accountable financially and legally for the actions of a minor child whether that child lives within the family home or not.

The only relief of said responsibility is by an order from the court' either issued due to the request of the minor to be emancipated; the parents to have their parental rights voluntarily relinquished, or a permanent termination of parental rights by the court. If the parents or legal guardian so choose they can petition the court to have said minor returned to their custody, or the said minor can be taken into custody and placed in a foster or group home, or juvenile facility depending upon the circumstances involved and at the discretion of the presiding judge. The state also reserves the right to take into custody any underaged person for their own safety and well-being or as applicable to the Texas Family and Juvenile Codes.

• At the age of 17 you may move out of your parents house in Texas. YOU however must be attending school and the cops could possibly make you call your parents and at least tell them where you are at, and that you are okay.

• The age of majority in Texas is 18. You can move out prior to turning 18 if you have parental permission or if you've been emancipated in some manner (marriage, court decree, etc).

I ran away at the age of 14 and was told that I could legally leave at 17

Iam 16 soon and when i turn 17 i plan on moving out and would like to know if its legal to move in with a unrelated person. Such as a boyfriend whos over 18. I would be continuing school and holding a job and i would not be in a dangerous situation. I was wondering if anyone had advice or a number for a good lawyer to explain the laws.

The legal age to move out in Texas is 18.But you can also move out at the age of 17 and not be forced to move back to your parents. The only reason you will be forced to move back is if you start to miss alot of school.It states that if you have more then three absent at school from the time you move out, you will be forced to move back with your parents by court.

18, unless you've been emancipated in some manner, such as marriage (requires parental consent) or court decree (not an easy thing to obtain).

That answer actually isn't true. I legally moved out of my house at 17 years old and my parents couldn't do anything about it. I have 3 younger sisters who also moved out at 17. Since you are considered an adult in the eyes of the law at 17, you have to be treated like one. Of course, unless your parents will sign power of attorney over to whoever you move in with, things can be difficult. You cannot sign yourself in or out of school until you turn 18 and you cannot go to the doctor by yourself unless you have paperwork signed by a parent allowing you to. Luckily, I had lived with my aunt when I was younger, so all of the paperwork was already on file.

The age is 18 years old. There are some exceptions. Married (need parental permission), in the military (need parental permission), or by court order. I must add that there are some gray areas, but still the minor would have to petition the court.

The official age of majority in Texas as in most US states and Western countries is 18. That's when you're considered a legal adult and you can make all your own decisions.

However there may be a loophole for 17-year-olds in Texas. Apparently if they are supporting themselves Texas police won't generally force them to go home.

18 is the age of majority. Which means that is when your parents are no longer responsible for you.

Yes.

Answer

Not without a move being made by someone with standing in the court toward this end, usually the obligor, who lacks the funding to pay an attorney to do this. In Missouri, child support continues through college, and though each parent is obligated for a percentage of their income for the care of the child, only the obligor continues to pay when the child moves away to college. And, unless a modification is done, it continues to go to the parent who no longer has the child living there.

see link below

If you have a legal right to custody you can file to enforce that claim. You should seek advice from a family law attorney.

The answer depends on other details which haven't been provided. A step father has no legal rights regarding his wife's child from a previous relationship. If he has had a very close relationship with the child and the mother is declared unfit the court may grant custody. However, the biological father would need to consent. If he objects the court will schedule a hearing. If the non-biological "father" had legally adopted the child then he can certainly petition for custody if there is a divorce. However, the mother will be favored unless she is declared unfit.

The factors used to determine that a parent is unfit are generally governed by state laws with child endangerment being the determining factor. The following include some of the reasons a parent may be declared unfit:

• physical, emotional and sexual abuse
• excessive discipline
• failure to protect the child from abuse by others
• failure to report abuse of the child
• neglect- failure to provide food, clothing, proper hygiene, necessary medical treatment, schooling
• failure to provide proper medical care
• failure to provide day to day parental care
• serious illness or disability
• mental illness
• substance abuse or addiction
• alcoholism
• criminal activity and/or associations
• incarceration
• conduct or conditions that are seriously detrimental to the child
• abandonment
• child endangerment
• leaving the child unattended or in the care and supervision of a child
• a failure to provide adequate supervision
• unsafe living conditions
• a medical condition that makes it impossible for the parent to adequately care for the child

There is no legal age for children to stay at home alone in Texas. The following is taken directly from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services website found in the related links below.

Supervision of children is basic to the prevention of harm. Adequate supervision means an adult caregiver is accountable for the child's care. Although, there is no Texas law that defines a specific age at which a child may be left home alone, there are several factors that should be taken into consideration when deciding how closely to supervise a child, including: * the age, emotional maturity and capability of the child; * layout and safety of the home, play area, or other setting; * neighborhood circumstances, hazards, and risks; * the child's ability to respond to illness, fire, weather, or other types of emergencies; and * whether the child has a mental, physical, or medical disability. The number of children left unsupervised, the accessibility to other responsible adults, the length of time or frequency with which the child is left alone, and the child's knowledge of the parent's whereabouts are additional relevant factors. There are very few states in the U.S. with legal minimum ages for children home alone, but many state agencies have published guidelines. Georgia, Illiniois, Maryland and Oregon are a few of the states with specific ages mentioned in their laws.

12 years of age appears to be the most common recommendation. Below in Related Links is an article entitled Home Alone Children Legal Age Limits state by state comparison with references.

One guideline from a California child welfare representative suggests that 8 year olds and over can be left at home for a brief amount of time(such as just after school). The most common statement is that a child's maturity should be the determining factor and not just age.