when is a parent not responsible for childs bills?

Question

my son has a medical bill that he inquired at 17 years old, without our permission, am i the parent responsible

Answer 1

The laws on this will vary by state in the U. S. (I assume you live in the United States). However, children are not allowed, typically, to enter into legal obligations involving debt without their parents' permission. Therefore, you may have redress against whomever provided the medical service. If your son obtained the medical service through fraud (i.e. he claimed to be eighteen or older), however, he may be in some sort of legal trouble beside the bill.

My advice is to consult an attorney who practices contract law in your state and see what your options are. Many attorneys will provide a free consultation of an hour or so to help you understand your options. If the bill is for a relatively small amount, though, please be aware that you can quickly incur more in attorneys' fees than the amount of the bill, so it may be worth talking this through with the medical provider first. It is probably a good idea to talk to the provider first anyway to find out exactly what happened, if you have not already done so.

I hope this works out well for you. May God bless and keep you.

Answer 2

I think that you are responsible for everything until he is emancipated or turns 18. Then he is. In this case, it seems that you will have to pay it. How did he get a medical bill without you, you need a legal guardian to check out of a hospital most places. He was 17 when he got the bill so you will have to cough it up.

Answer 3

You mean acquired, not inquired.

You probably want to speak to a lawyer. Depends on your state, but in many states, that bill would be considered a contract, and usually contracts with minors are not binding, so there is usually a co-signer. If there was no adult to co-sign or give permission for medical treatment to be done, even in emergency situations, then there's a chance that payment would not need to be made. If that's the case, the hospital/clinic/doctor's office should have known better.

Answer 4

Until a minor is not longer a minor the parent is ultimately responcible for any financial matter related to said minor. That is federal law.

However, there is nothing to say your 17 year old couldn't work off the debt with his part time summer job you could make him get. Also, I wonder how your son got treatment at a hosptial without parental conscent....unless it was an emergency, in which case (if it was an emergency) you should stop being cheap and take responcibility for normal child rearing costs.

Answer 5

First look into it and if need be get a lawyer. But if the lawyer says it has to be paid then he should pay it. He is not a baby he is a young adult so make he act like one. It's his bill not yours. If you get out of trouble here what lesson has he learned. That he can do what ever and mom will clean up after me. What will he do next time? Let him know that when do does something there are prices to pay. If need be you can help but make sure he pays you back 100%. He is 17 and should know better. This is what is called a life lesson.

Answer 6

Depends on where you live. If he is considered a minor at the age of 17, then you are probably responsible. If he did it without your permission, you may be able to get compensation from the person who provided the medical service.

Answer 7

18

Answer 8

It depends, was it a medical emergency (doctors usually make this decision) ? If so yes. If not then you can fight the bill since minors aren't allowed to enter into contracts as a general rule. If they are unresponsive consider sueing them for treating the minor without the parents permission.

Answer 9

Usually you are responsible for your children until they become adults, sometimes if t hey are in college you may still be responsible a few more years... But I don't understand how any medical procedure took place without your consent when your son was a minor... You may have a case.. get some legal advice

Answer 10

Yes, you are still his legal guardian and you are responsible for the bill. Heck, my five year old got hurt doing something without my permission.....wish I didn't have to pay.

I believe you are responsible for his/her medical bills until they graduate high school or move out of the house (whichever comes first). I know most insurance companies allow you to keep children still in school on insurance.