Chino Hills, CA asked in Banking, Family Law, Civil Rights and Juvenile Law for California

Q: Can my parents still check and confiscate my phone and other devices? Can they have "access" to my bank account?

I'm an 18 year old living with my parents. My parents pay for my phone bill and gifted me the phone and other devices. I let them do it because I am aware that I am not doing anything of malice, but it does make me uncomfortable. Even if I do talk to my parents, they won't entertain me about it because I "live under their house and pay for my phone bills, etc." I understand this and let them do it because I am aware that I am not doing anything of malice, but it does make me feel violated and very uneasy.

In addition, I have a "high school bank account" that is connected with my mom's account. I am already in college and would like to transfer to a college bank account of my own. However, my mom wants to keep my high school checking account instead so she can "have access", etc. I will be starting work soon, and I would like to know any kind of legality in this situation because I would like to have my own independence and be self-reliant.

1 Lawyer Answer
Louis George Fazzi
Louis George Fazzi
Answered
  • Civil Rights Lawyer
  • Jess Ranch, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: As an 18-year-old you can open your own bank account in your own name without anyone else on the account. It only takes a few dollars to open an account. You might go to your own bank where the existing account is, and ask to open your own account in your own name. Then, once you have done that, you can transfer the funds from the joint account with your mother into your own account, only if, however, the funds in the joint account belong to you. Do not steal funds belonging to your mother.

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