Q: If I am 18 but my mother pays the passport fees ($150), who does my passport belong to?
My mother paid the money required to receive a passport/updated passport. I am 18 years old and a legal US citizen. She told me that I am not allowed to keep this passport in my possession because it is not mine, seeing as I did not pay for it. She also stated if I tried to take this passport of my own volition, then she would report the passport stolen, and I would have to pay the subsequent fees associated. Is this legal? Is my passport really not mine? And if so how can I get around this? What do I do? Thanks so much in advance for your consideration~
-Sam
A: Your passport is the property of the US Government and is meant to be held in the possession of the identified person - you. I do not see how she can report it stolen if it is not her own document. Your other option is to report it stolen yourself and pay the fees to receive a new one directly to you. If necessary, speak with a local general practice attorney - you may even have to seek police intervention, but I hope it won't come to that over something like this. Good luck.
Matthew Lane Kreitzer agrees with this answer
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