what rights do i have i Am 14 years old & i would like to know what i can and can't do.?

Question

i am a 14 year old boy and would like to know what right i have as all appointment are sorted by parents and letters get opened by my parents to read prior to me.
are they allowed to do this
i would just like to know what i can DO. and they can't

Answer 1

None. As a Minor, you have the right to listen to you parents, go to school, study and do what other kids are doing: learning the skills and info needed to become contributing members of society. Regardless of country of origin, unless your parents had their rights stricken, they are presumed to be competent and raising you properly.

You should thank you parents for caring enough to be interested in your life. I've been on my own since 17 years old, (I am now 28) and I wish I could have had my mom that interested in my life. Now, with my parents passing, I am left to remember those times.

Legally, as long as you are an unemancipated minor, you get to either follow their rules, or get punished. Should you rebel by skipping school and such, you will be forced to attend, if noy locked away, forcibly schooled and otherwise regulated until you reach adulthood.

To become emancipated, at least generally in the US, you need to prove that you are both able to take care of yourself financially, scholastically and generally. Quite hard, considering most kids get paid crap, don't like to save, and can not be trusted to go to school for themselves.

Again, give your folks a big hug and a kiss and thank them for taking a proactive stand in your life.

Answer 2

As a minor, you have no rights. Your parents on the other hand have a legal burden to keep you safe, fed and sheltered; to ensure you are protected from harm, and that you attend school or are homeschooled.

All the work has to be done by your parents; you get to be a kid for a few more years.

You are unable to sign legal documents, and you have no 'right to privacy'.

The only item that is vague is a letter sent through the federal mail system addressed specifically to you. There may be an arguement to be made that a parent that opens a letter addressed to someone else, even a minor, is interfering with the mail delivery, which is a federal offense. But I wouldn't get your hopes up on any attorney taking the case, or any judge supporting such a challenge.

Answer 3

If you are not giving your parents a genuine cause to worry (like drinking or taking drugs) then there may be some other reason they feel they need to protect you. It could be they were a bit wild themselves at your age and are worried you'll do the same things! But if the letters are routine stuff eg letters about jabs, maybe they have just got into the habit of opening them like they did when you were little. You may need to sit them down and point out that you are now a young adult, that you need some space and privacy, and opening your own mail is important to you.

Answer 4

You don't have any rights until you are of age, and in England that age is 18. You can get married at 16 with parents consent and smoke but otherwise no rights. Your parents are right to open all mail that is delivered to you. They are there to protect you and it sounds to me like they are doing a good job. You will do the same for your children when you are a parent.

Answer 5

Sorry buddy - as a 14-year-old, you do not have many rights at all. If someone is sending you letters through the mail to your house, and your parents are opening and reading them prior to you having the chance, my best advise would be to tell people not to mail letters to your house. For better or worse, minors do not have a right to privacy in the sense you are talking about.

Answer 6

I deal a lot of the time with witnesses and victims under the age of 17 for the courts...and if I contact anyone I am unable to speak with the person under 17 unless the parent or guardian is there and they have given their permission.

Its a tough situation but as an early respondent said, you should feel lucky that your parents care enough to do what they do. Some young people are in the unenviable position of not having that luxury.

Answer 7

Privacy is one thing. And being a concerned parent is another. However, until you are 18, they are in charge. They make Dr appts, cover you under their insurance, pay for it. If you ditch school, they are responsible. If you throw rock at a neighbor's window and break it, they will go to your parents. They are responsible for you...until you are 18. There is some gray area after that. Unless you get emancipated before you are 18. This is called an emancipated minor. You need a good reason. This would mean you take care of yourself--financially, pay your own dr bills, put a roof over your head....etc.

Parents have rules, their roof...follow their rules kind of thing. Though I agree that opening personal mail...cards and private letters is not right---even rifling thru your room---unless you have given them some reason to to be worried or concerned. If they are opening up bills that come under your name, school issues...in an odd way it's their job--stay on top of these things, after all, they pay for it. It's all about trust at this age. Try talking to them about privacy.

Answer 8

Well, your rights are very limited....you are basically under what rules your parents have set forth....you need to set down with them and talk about how you feel....at 14 you are getting to the age your parents should start putting more trust into your judgement....but as a child your rights are basically in the hands of your parents....if they don't trust you judgement you have to ask yourself and them several questions,

1. Have you done anything that would make them question the trust they have for you?

2. What reasons do they have for acting the way they do?

Sit and talk with them, don't get angry and argue with them, sit and have a civilized conversation with them....ask why and tell them your thoughts....then together you can work things...

Answer 9

I'm not sure whether they can or not, but it's their house and they pay all the bills, so until u start paying some bills around the house, stop complaining. What mail do you have coming in that you dont want your parents to see anyway? If you have to keep it a secret, then you probably shouldn't be doing it in the first place.

Answer 10

You have no legal rights to anything that you mentioned. You are a minor and your parents have every right to read your mail and when and where you will be. Sorry but you are only 14 and not quite an adult yet.