West Plains, MO asked in Civil Litigation, Family Law, Child Custody and Domestic Violence for Missouri

Q: im 17 and living on my own in MO. my mom is saying she can put me in a mental hospital until im 21.

i moved out of my moms 6 moths ago and she has threatened me to either come home or she will send me to a mental hospital until im 21, even tho i am mentally stable.

1 Lawyer Answer
Lydia Seifner
Lydia Seifner
Answered
  • Divorce Lawyer
  • Springfield, MO
  • Licensed in Missouri

A: You can't put anyone in psychiatric facility if they are mentally stable; it's a doctor's call to admit someone for treatment, not a parent's decision because they're mad at their kid. It just doesn't work like that. She can however, report you as a runaway and send you to juvenile detention. I would encourage you to speak to an attorney about seeking emancipation, if you've been supporting yourself for six months, you would qualify.

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