Question: I live at home but don't want to. I have a job, and I support myself in every way. I buy my own food, clothes, etc. What are my parents legal responsibilities for me, and can I leave home if they do not follow them?
Answer: If you are a minor (under 18 years old in Arizona) your parents have the right and duty to control you and the duty to support you. You say that you support yourself in every way. Does this include paying rent to your parents, rent equivalent to what you would pay for a place of your own somewhere else? Do you pay for your own transportation? Insurance? Pay your own taxes? Unless you do these all these things, you probably are not truly able to support yourself.
In certain circumstances, a minor who can fully support him or herself will become an emancipated minor. However, this means the minor has the full responsibility of all of his or her needs. Merely contributing to your support does not mean that you can become emancipated.
Your parents have a duty to protect you and provide for you. Your parents do not have a duty to allow you to do what you want.
Your parents will lose their right and duty to control you if they abuse it. This usually involves some sort of criminal behavior, or behavior that puts you in danger. Not feeding, clothing, or houseing you would be examples of this behavior. Your contribution towards food, housing or clothing does not get you out of obeying them.
Unless you are fully emancipated, or your parents legally lose their right to parental authority, you cannot leave home without their permission.
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On 05/06/02
Sabrina from MI said:
I am having the same type of problems at home. I have one older sister and two younger brothers. My family is having some problems lately. It's hard I would love to get emansapated and leave but you got to remember you can have a millon friends but you only get one family. What you do now could change what type of realtionship you and your family have later. It's hard for me to remember that if it was not for one of my really close friend I would not have understood it. Try to talk things out with you family let emansapation be last option.
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On 03/18/02
princess from PA said:
don't think that just because your friends will take you in that it would be easier on you, because even though there willing to help you at first , after a while you are a burden even though they are close to you, because its cool and okay for a little but after a while your not as welcome.
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On 01/26/02
Ashley from CA said:
You'e incredibly lucky that you have friends like that. Iam in a sitution at home similar t yours and I would like to become emancipated, but I do not have enough money to support myself , or a place to live. I would think that in your situation you should sit down with your firends and their parents/guardians, and set down a contract that you would have to abide to if you lived with them. That includes rent, bills, late payments, and education. Have it checked by a lawyer and file for emancipation. Good luck.
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On 01/10/02
Veronica from AZ said:
Soon I will be turning 16 years old. I'm not happy at my home. My parents take care of me but they drink a lot. I don't feel safe at home since they drink so heavly. I know what drinking can do to you so I'm just afraid that maybe someday something bad will happen that I don't want. My dad has a short temper so when he drinks it gets worse. I have been hit once but I feel that I deserved it. If I was to get emansapated I have a friends that I can go live with and they said that they will help me get through high school and get to college. Yes I will still have to get a job and help out with th
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