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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.
Comments
16 thru 20 of 39 comments
On 05/30/05
Alisha from IN said:
Im 16 and my problem is i live at home with my mom and kid brother my mom does not accept the religion i have choosen she tells me everyday thats not you witch the life i did have i would never go back to it when i started the church i am still attending i meet a guy there named ben we hooked up 2 months after we meet and i was 15 and he was 17 he turned 18 4 months before i turned 16 my does not aprove of him b/c she thinks i have changed for the worse she says i let my church and b/f controll my life and i dont she also treats my kid brother(15) different is there any chance of emansapation?
On 05/28/05
Kymlee from IA said:
I am going to be 17 on August 18th 05. I will be a senior and I am graduating at semester. I dont want to live with my mom or my dad but I want to get an apartment with my boyfriend. If I am graduating at semester and have a steady well paying job, is it leagal for me to move out when i turn 17, because i will be in collage before im even 18?
On 03/24/05
shana from PA said:
I have been goin through some stuff with my mother and her boy friend with drugs I buy my own food clothes etc. I have a one year old daughter that i dont want growing up around DRUGS I dont recive any money from my mother she takes all my money i work for I just hope this is enough to get away from it all. I dont want to live like that I have had a lot of my things sold from out my house . Thats not the only stuff she sells foood stamps so theres no food in the house and she just dont care . so i hope by written this maybe somebody who reads it wont be so alone every one has problems
On 02/27/05
Raven from TX said:
i will graduate when i m 17 and would like to move into my own place or move in with another adult is this possible in texas
On 02/09/05
angel cole from MD said:
i have been living with my dad for a long time and im so happy but he is kicking me out for know reason and i ahte it over my moms she barlley gives us food and she worries about herself also i have a boy that i love so much and if i go therei will lose him because her and i wanna stay with my dad, i dont want to go over there at all she never givesme money to eat at school i have to use my money from my paychecks to eat and they aint much what shall i do iw ish i new i dont wanna be here no more i wanna disappear for ever ican u help?
16 thru 20 of 39 comments


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