Tampa, FL asked in Child Custody, Family Law and Juvenile Law for Florida

Q: The lady i live with is in the process of getting legal custody of me. Will she have the right to keep me till age 21?

My dad passed away in 2012. My mom is a very unfit parent due to drug usage and not using my dads death benefits checks that come in for me to actually support me. Plus some other reasons. We were homeless and ended up living with my best friends aunt. Because my mom was making very bad decisions and doing bad things she ended up getting kicked out. She thought it would be best for her to go back to our hometown of Baltimore to live with her cousin since she also had no where else to go. Because of a criminal case im working on getting dealt with and my last court date for it is august 15th its better and almost necessary to have a legal guardian there. Plus since i wont be 18 until Sept. if I want any doctors or dental appointments i need a legal guardian to take me. The issue is that im trying to move out when im 18. The lady i live with is stating that when she gets legal custody she has the right to keep me living here until im 21. Is that legally true in this state (Tampa, FL)?

1 Lawyer Answer
Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
Answered
  • Freeeport, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: No.

Assuming she is to be appointed as your guardian because you are a minor, and not because you are otherwise incapacitated, such guardianship would end on your 18th birthday (because at that time you will no longer be a minor).

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