Either termination or running away 17 and 19 year old in Ky...?

Question

I have a friend that is 19 years old. We live in Kentucky. His girlfriend which is 17 years old wants them to runaway together because her parents doesnt like him because of the person he was in his past in which he has now drasticly changed himself into a much better being. She is fixing to go to the courthouse and try to terminate her parents rights, she says she heard something on the news about a year ago, and if im not mistaking I also heard, that they passed a law here to where you can get your parental rights terminated between ages of 16 and 18 years old. Her parents do verbally abuse her and threaten her alot. They are a cause of severe emotional stress and she is becoming deeply depressed. They are very controling. Is there a way that she can terminate her parents rights as a 17 year old if she has somewhere to live in which is financially supportive and beneficial? They are wanting me to help them since neither of them has internet connection. And supposubly if she cant do it, they are going to run away together. With him being 19 years old and her 17 years old what could happen if they were caught? She is legal age of consent. And if they dont get caught and hide out well enough until she were 18 years old and then return back home, what can happen? Please give me some decent answers, im trying to help give them information on this because they are very close friends and I care alot for them. Thanks!

Answer 1

I understand that you are trying to help your friend, but in all honesty this is situation that should be dealt with by a professional family councillor would your friend listen if you suggest this option to her.

Answer 2

I'm not from Kentucky but I assume she needs a lawyer and a court date. That requires cash. She is not the age of legal consent, I'll bet. Try 18. That would be why she needs to terminate her parents rights. It's a catch 22 between 17 & 18. If she is considered a minor by the courts, he can be arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. There is also statutory rape and if he takes her across a state line, it can go on and on and it doesn't go away because she becomes older. Her parents may be strict and controlling because they think she needs it. The whole story does not sound like either of them are very mature. A mature man would spend time with her parents and show them that he is the kind of person they want their daughter with, not run away and cause more problems for the both of them. You can't expect parents to want less for their children. Could be why they are yelling, they are at their wits end with her. . .and him. Tell them to grow up and face their problems. If this young man cares for his gf, he will do nothing to hurt her. Besides, how will they be together when he is in jail for a couple of years or so.

Answer 3

Emancipation ends the legal authority that a parent has over a child who is under 18. After emancipation, your parent doesn’t have to take care of you or pay for things that you need. Emancipation changes your life. You will have some new rights and also some new responsibilities.

You have to be at least 14 and living away from home. Your parents have to agree with your decision. They could also decide not to fight you in court. You have to have a legal income that pays for food, clothes, and rent. The judge has to decide that emancipation is best for you.

(this is from a legal web page from the state of California. i cut and pasted it as i could not have done a better job at explaining it other than saying it was a way to legally divorce yourself from your parents....however it is a very serious thing to do...don't take it lightly at all, family will always be there, relationships friends or lovers can come in go throughout your life and at such a young age if the reason for wanting to become emancipated is largely due to the fact that she is so in "love" with someone then she should wait to be with the guy...love should be patient and understanding if its not then it is only "lust" and will change in time)

Answer 4

In VA you can get emancipated from your parents (this means that you are declared as an adult), there is a long process to this and there has to be signs of abuse from the household in which the child is living, the judge and social services are the ones that decide on this. If they runaway and get caught, she can be sent to a juvenile home and he can be charged with aiding with a runaway and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. if you help them with the runaway you can be charged as well with aiding with a runaway. if they live someone together with another person and get caught, then the friend and the one that they are living with can be charged with the same, unless the person they are staying with does not know that she is a runaway. On the other note, if they can hide until she is 18 when she returns home there is nothing that can be done about it. Granted I know that the states all have different laws, it is best to check the state AND local laws in reference to this.

Answer 5

She’s talking about emancipation and the requirements for it vary by state. The requirements for it are many and it’s rarely granted in any state. And ..NO judge is going to emancipate a minor so she can live with her boyfriend. It’s not going to happen.

As far as the ‘age of consent’ that has nothing to do with the ‘age of majority’. They are entirely different issues. Until she turns 18 (which is the age of majority) she is subject to the control and rules of her parents. The age of consent has nothing to do with that.

IF there is abuse, she can report it (try a guidance counselor at school), but be aware that verbal/emotional abuse is often very difficult to prove. While some things are clearly verbal/emotion abuse, often times it’s a matter of perspective. What one person sees as abusive another does not. As far as her parents being controlling…MOST teenagers think their parents are too controlling. But as a parent, they have the right to control their child/determine what activities their child is allowed to participate in/determine who their child is allowed to associate with/etc. Judges do not like to interfere with parental rights and will not do so without a VERY compelling reason. By the way, even IF a judge rules that she should be removed from the home that doesn’t mean she gets to be with Boyfriend. That means she’ll be placed in the custody of the state.

If she runs away and your friend encourages her/assists her/etc he can face consequences for that.

The best advice you can give your friend…stay away from her until she turns 18. I’m sure he won’t like that advice, but as an adult, he should be able to realize that sometimes in life you can’t always have everything you want right when you want it. Sometimes you have to wait patiently for it.

Answer 6

each state is different but in Iowa we have a process to emancipate a youth (make them legally an adult before 18) I am nto sure of the exact process but I do know they have to prove that they can support themselves financially, and in some states I have heard that finishing school is a part of it too.
All you can really do is contact an attorney (smart way would be to find one that advertises that initial consoult is free) and hypothetically bring the subject up and see what the kids would have to do.
Otherwise if she is 17 now, she can stick it out and at 18 she is a legal adult so then she could go anywhere she wants.

Answer 7

The place you lived for two years is a facility for people who have severe emotional and behavioral problems. You describe the severe behavioral problems you caused at home. It sounds like your parents sent you to that facility because you were out of control and they were out of options. I hope you are seeing a psychiatrist regularly because it sounds like you need to talk about your life with a mental health professional. Maybe over time, with work from you and perhaps medicine, you'll be able to move into a rational and healthy life. I read your other questions, and saw that you want to have twelve babies at the rate of one baby every ten months. You drink far too much. You have diabetes and otherserious health problems, but still drink like crazy. You want to be a surrogate mother in order to have twelve babies. You were responsible for your cat's death, but you think you're capable of caring for a lot of children. All of this shows you still have major emotional and/or mental health problems which need to be addressed. I urge you to get professional therapy. If you already go, keep going. One day you might feel a lot better and be better able to make your way in the world.

Answer 8

She is underage and he isn't if he runs with her,he can be held accountable since she's still a minor. If he has been found to have had sexual relations with her, he can be charged with statutory rape of a minor.

Answer 9

God, what a country!