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Question: I am 17 and have a child; can I move in with his father without my mothers consent?

Answer: In Arizona, and probably in most other states, your mother has the right and the duty to control and care for you until you are an adult. Being an adult in Arizona means either that you are 18 years old, or that you are emancipated. Therefore, you may not live anywhere except where your mother (or someone else who is given custody or guardianship of you by the court) tells you to live.

To become emancipated you must be able to support yourself. Providing for yourself means that you feed and cloth yourself, provide yourself with transportation to work and school, provide insurance, pay taxes, etc. You must be able to do all of these things, and you will be required to do all of these things for yourself.

In addition, if you try to move in with the father of your child who is an adult (18 or over) he can be prosecuted (read more about this...).

You have a lot to think about before you make your next move. Take time to consider it fully.

Comments
11 thru 15 of 28 comments
On 07/28/06
Laura from MO said:
I am 17 and hate living at home. I want to move out more than anything but im scared if i do my mom will send me away to a girls home. Im sick of her and cant take much more of her screaming and controling everything in my life. I have a full time job and a place to go live but if the police find me can they still send me back home?
On 05/17/06
CW from NC said:
i am 16 years old i will be 17 in 2 months. I hate living in my house it just seems like my parents and me dont have the same beleifs we dont like the same things we just have nothing in common and i just hate coming home, im not sure why but i do. If i have a place where i could go and a guarenteed transportation to my job and can but myself food and afford doctors appointments n all that stuff can i move out, or if i just leave waht could be done? Because i am a very independent person i work full time and pay for everything i wnat or need.
On 04/02/06
becca from GA said:
i think the law should let 17 year olds can move out because if you go straight to jail at 17 then why not move out at 17. My mom and dad are divorced and my mama always is argueing with my dad. I wanna move in with him but the police said i have to wait till im 18. She always is threatening me about not seeing him.
On 03/03/06
Brittani from FL said:
I am currently pregnant and my boy friend is 20 he is completely capable of supporting me and our child when it gets here .How would I go about moving out of my house legally? I am trying to get around getting him in trouble with the law because I know he is ready and willing to be a father and a husband in the future… Please answer me it will be a lot of help for me and him, and will help us plan our next step.
On 02/08/06
Marissa from IL said:
I was wondering, i've been trying to look for information on if im able to move out of my house with my boyfriend? I know it only legal not untill your 18 but i thought you could go through the court and if you had a job and place to live it was okay. please answer my question.
11 thru 15 of 28 comments


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