My legal guardian wants me to go to Texas with her for 2 months next summer. By that time i will be 17 years-old and I was wondering if I have the right to decide to stay at home by myself while she goes to Texas.
2006-09-24 13:56:51 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
If it is her property, than no you have no rights to stay on her "homestead" without her permission.
2006-09-24 14:23:37 · answer #1 · answered by Venus__27 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What do you mean by legal guardian - step mom? Do you like your family? Are you ready to support yourself? More importantly what state do you live in? California is pretty liberal.
Now if your guardian is not actually family -- then yes you probably do have a right to stay in state. In fact many states prohibit foster parents from taking those in their care out of state. Just call the state agency. Be aware that they may change your guardianship.
If your guardians are family in some way...
your options range from fairly stupid to hostile.
Lots of 17 year olds just disappear for a few days right before a trip, forcing parents to cancel the trip or trust that nothing bad happens. Legally most states allow that they have the option without "child abandonment". This will not do good things for family relations...and the freezer can get pretty bare. Plus there are runaway laws which may place you in juvenile detetnion regardless of what your guardian wants...sort depends on what the police think of your overall behavior.
Some states like California make the process of legal emancipation as an adult fairly trivial. Of course your parents don't need to support you any more. But sometimes parents are cool with this if you really do mostly support yourself. It used to help with getting scholarships as well...assuming you go to college more or less on schedule.
Finally you can call in kidnapping in liberal states like California. But this is likely a bad move as you really burn bridges with family and you better follow through with the legal charges. If you waste state time they will prosecute you for filing a false charges. And even in California they will likely laugh at you unless you have some reasonable problems with the move...like disruption of academics or unsutiable living arrangement at the destination.
Whatever you do -- do it before Texas. Texas does not take any misbehavior from teens. Miss curfew and go to jail. All a guardian has to do is involve police and it is then out of their control.
2006-09-24 21:26:13 · answer #2 · answered by mortree 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You do. But your guardian has the superseding legal right to make you go.
Your guardian makes the decision on whether you are mature enough to remain behind and live on your own or not. But I don't know of many parents/legal guardians that would leave anyone under the age of 18 and still in school home alone for 2 months without some sort of supervision. I think maybe you need to find someone to stay with. That might work better for you.
2006-09-24 21:15:11 · answer #3 · answered by volleyballchick (cowards block) 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well your guardian is responsible for anything that might happen to you. To leave you alone is negligent and he/she would be legally responsible and possible face criminal charges if you did hurt yourself, got pregnant, or if some 18 year old got a 17 year old pregnant at some wild highschooler party while they were gone.
Now I don't know you or the kind of trouble you get into, but that isn't the issue. Here's the dealy: if you put someone in a position to be liable for your actions, you are taking huge risks with their lives. 17 year olds generally don't care about anyone so I don't expect you to have any consideration for this person's future, but try to at least. Don't be like the typical one.
Breaking your leg on a drop zone in Iraq and having to hike 5 miles with 100 lbs of gear, getting shot in the face, and then your girlfriend dumping you sucks. Having to go on what is possibly your last trip is inconvenient, but definitely doesn't suck. Reading them people above doesn't suck either. You might not like what they say, and it may make you feel bad, but there are definitely worse things to experience in life.
Last thing: go to college, get a good education and good job or your life WILL suck. No way for you to know this, but it's the truth.
2006-09-24 21:05:37 · answer #4 · answered by Lobster Dinosaur 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you a not legally an adult until you are 18. By the way, it is HER house, and SHE has the final say who stays in it, especially when she is not there. Two months is a very long time to be away from home, and who knows what a 17 year old will do to her home while she's away, no matter how responsible you may be.
2006-09-24 21:02:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well let's see...You have been taken in by people that are providing a roof over your head, food in your belly, clothes on your back, shoes on your feet. You pay no bills and basically are taken care of because you are a child. I would also imagine that this family loves you very much. And you ask if you have a LEGAL right to refuse to go on a family trip. It sounds like to me you should count your blessings that you are able to say the word FAMILY and YOU in the same sentence. Now when YOU are able to provide all the things for yourself with out ANY help financially or otherwise from your "legal guardian" as you call her then I would say yes you have the right to refuse to go on a family trip.
2006-09-24 21:15:48 · answer #6 · answered by GORDON B 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Like the first person said, Parents' Laws supercede all others.
You will be 17 so naturally you don't want to be with them.
But go. You won't miss out on anything at home that you can't do when you get back. This will be one of the last family trips you'll take and you will remember it forever.
TRUST ME!
2006-09-25 00:00:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If she is supporting you and making your legal decisions , you do not have the right to remain home alone . However , if you are supporting yourself in your own home ; paying your own rent ; buying you food ; utilities; etc . then you can stay wherever you like . Until then , your legal guardian is responsible for you . She could not , in good faith , allow you to remain home alone for the summer .
2006-09-24 21:11:42 · answer #8 · answered by missmayzie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No you do not have that right. Anything that goes wrong in which someone can get hurt or property damaged --she is liable for so as long as she is responsible why would she let you?
Two months is a long time to be by yourself and you would miss her too.
2006-09-24 21:08:46 · answer #9 · answered by Midge 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No you don't have the right to refuse to go but you can try and come up with a compromise such as go for a couple weeks and come back early to stay with a prearranged friend.
2006-09-24 21:08:47 · answer #10 · answered by ebsharer 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She has the right to lock you out of her home, without money, car, cell phone.
Quit whining. Unless you plan on being TOTALLY self sufficient....yes, that mean you get off your b-u-t-t and work, and take no money, food or housing from your "guardian".
You sound like an ungrateful BRAT.
2006-09-24 21:03:40 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋