Q: If I'm 16 and the guy im with is 20 is it legal to be with him if my parents do not allow it
A: Yes, and no. There is nothing illegal about dating a 20 year old man when you are 16. It's a terrible idea, but that's a different conversation. However, the law also requires you to obey your parents within reason. It is reasonable for them to insist you not date an adult male. If you persist in disobeying them, they can punish you. If you really persist, you could be adjudicate unruly or delinquent by a juvenile court and face court orders requiring you to do a lot of inconvenient stuff. In addition, if it were to reach that point, he could be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Bottom line, you have to do what your parents tell you.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
