Q: My boyfriend is 19 and I am 16 in Alabama I am legal age of consent can my mother who isn’t a custodian press charges?
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
In Alabama, the age of consent is 16, which means that at 16, you can legally engage in a relationship with someone who is 19. Since you are of legal age, your relationship is generally not considered illegal under Alabama law. However, complications can arise depending on specific circumstances, such as coercion or any form of abuse.
Even though your mother isn’t your custodian, she can still report the relationship to authorities if she believes something inappropriate or illegal is happening. If a report is made, law enforcement might investigate to ensure everything is within legal boundaries. If the relationship is found to be consensual and there’s no evidence of wrongdoing, it’s less likely that charges would be pressed.
It’s important to communicate openly with your mother and understand her concerns. You might want to consider having a calm discussion with her about your relationship to address any worries she may have. Seeking advice from a trusted adult or legal advisor could also be helpful in understanding your rights and the law in this situation.
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.
