Can the courts "own" someone? My dad says they own me... wha?

Question

He keeps saying that until i'm 22, the courts own me, and can dictate where I live and stuff..... and that doesn't seem like it would be legal to me <_<

And I plan on moving out when i'm 18 and he keeps saying I have to live with him until the court papers are changed or I turn 22, What is THAT all about? Everyone I talk to about he says he's lying about the whole thing.

Anyone got any info about this?

Ack, more info: I haven't been in trouble with the law, at any point in my life.

My parents ARE divorced.

My birthday is the 30th <_<

I know onothing of any inheritance. Nobody has ever even hinted such a thing to me.

And I'm in Arkansas, US >_>

details, details... x_x

Answer 1

He's lying. You become a legal adult at age 18, and if you've never been convicted of a crime or enlisted in the military, then you are free to move out and do as you please.

Your father has legal custody of you until you turn 18, unless the court determines him to be an unfit parent, and then they will reassign custody of you to someone else or make you a "ward of the state," in which case the state would be responsible for you until you turn 18. You could also apply to be an "emancipated minor" before age 18 if you can prove that you can support yourself and your parents are not fit guardians.

Your dad obviously wants control over you for some reason, but you don't have to believe him unless he can show you these "court papers" and prove he has some sort of legal right over you. He could be referring to some sort of inheritance that you won't get until you turn 22, but if he's never mentioned it before this is highly unlikely.

Answer 2

I think your dad's got the answer to that question. I do not think anyone can legally own you - but if you are in care then a court may decide where you live - but that does not seem the case - and if you say you have never had any brushes with the law then it is not like you are on probation. If your parents are divorced, consider who has custody of you? is the custody divided between the two parents? or does your dad have fully custody of you? The court cannot decide this for you beyond the age of 18, so as far as I can think you will have the freedom of an adult at 18.

I would think your father was just trying to scare or control you. It may seem a little strange but domineering, insecure parents can be like that, and it does seem like the most likely scenario. You haven't stated how old you are, but I take it you're under 18. Sort it out with your dad, and ask him to come clean - your confusion seems to stem from his vagueness in discussing the issue. You should question exactly who he claims owns you and 'why' pray tell do they own you.

Answer 3

You are legally an adult at the age of 18. No one "owns" you at this point. You are not bound to live with or listen to your father once you turn 18. The courts do not own you and never can own you.

Ask him to show you these "papers". Get copies and take them to a lawyer, if you can. Is there any chance that there is an inheritance involved that only hits when you turn 22?

I'm assuming you're in the US.

Answer 4

If you are in the United States and you are in your right mind, once your 18 you are out of his control! If he is really nutty in other respects and expectations, or cruel, you can petition the courts at 17 years of age to have yourself emancipated as an adult! Maybe there is some family trust money involved that either he won't be able to keep getting a percentage of if you leave early? Or maybe YOU have to fulfill 22 years with the family because of some legal trust set up by a relative, in order to come into an inheritance, so tred lightly until you know what is up legally there.

Answer 5

you're of age when you are 18. He means that the courts own you because he or your mother probably hasn't went for custody of you. The state does have custody of a child unless the parents go to court and get custody, but only until you are 18. Most kids can't afford to be on their own even when they turn 18 unless they have quite a bit of money in the bank and a credit history since most landlords do a credit check when you apply for an apartment.

Answer 6

Your dad either lies or he is misinformed.

The closest thing to a court "owning" someone is if a minor is appointed as a ward of the court, meaning the court DOES decide where a child may live, be educated, how money is spent. But all of those controls go away once a person turns 18.

The othe exception is, of course that the courts can decide how a criminal spends his time.

Answer 7

Legally, you are emancipated at 18, unless your father has the power to change the law. The courts may be binding him to something, like college assistance until you are 22, when most undergraduates finish college. Stick with your own game plan. It sounds to me that you need your independence from this guy.

Answer 8

It depends on what country you live in. If it's the U.S., the courts don't own you. Many states allow for you to move out when you're 17. After 18, you're not under anybody's custody or control. You aren't going to be "owned" until the age of 22 by any court in the U.S.

If you're in legal trouble because of a criminal conviction, then the Sheriff's Dept. or the Dept. of Corrections might "own" you, but not the courts or your father.

Answer 9

It's not that the courts own you. It's that the State (ie. the government) is your legal guardian. That means that they can overrule decisions you wish to make on your own.

Most people are their own legal guardian, especially once they are "of age". Something must have happened in your past that allowed the State to become your legal guardian.

Your best bet is to hire an attorney that can get to the bottom of it for you. Especially if you turning 18 soon...

Good luck!

Answer 10

Most child services courts will allow the minor child to choose which parent they want to live with around the age of 13-14. Once you turn 18, you are an adult and can live where ever you want to, and with whomever you want to. Your dad is just telling you that so you don't leave him.