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Speak Up! - View Question #21354 |
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Question: can i testify without my parents knowing or without their concent? Or can I write a letter regarding the situation and have it noterize. the testimony would be agisnt the wrong testimony of one parent to someone that is not a relative.
Answer: A notarized letter is not admissible or usable in court unless all of the parties agree to its use. If you wish to be a witness in a court proceeding, you must do so in open court in front of all the witnesses. The parents you mentioned would likely be given a chance to question you in open court about your testimony. If the person you want to help has a lawyer, that lawyer may be able to issue a subpoena to you.
A subpoena is a court order requiring you to come to court to testify. If you do not obey a subpoena, you could be ordered to serve jail time for contempt of court. If you get a subpoena, your parents will have to let you testify. Otherwise, you are not required to appear in court. If you are under 18, you must obey your parents' reasonable orders. If they do not want you to leave to go to court, you likely cannot go unless a subpoena was issued and served on you or on your parents.
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