Get free answers to your Juvenile Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I am a 16-year-old living in California, approaching 17, seeking emancipation due to emotional abuse from my legal guardians, who are my grandparents. Though I lack hard evidence, there are witnesses to the abuse, and I've discussed my situation with my therapist. I have a job that pays well... View More 
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answered on Apr 17, 2025
In California you can petition for emancipation if you are at least 14, living apart with parental consent or proving parental neglect or abuse, and managing your own financial affairs.
Emotional abuse by your guardians can satisfy the neglect or abuse requirement, but you will need... View More
Can a juvenile felon in California, whose felony record has not been expunged, become a commercial pilot if they have completed probation without participating in any rehabilitation programs?
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
Yes, it is still possible for a juvenile felon in California to become a commercial pilot, even if the record hasn’t been expunged. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not automatically disqualify someone based on a juvenile felony. What matters most is whether the felony is related to... View More
I am currently 17 years old and will turn 18 in May. I plan to move out with my boyfriend when I turn 18. My parents are very strict, and they don't know about my boyfriend. I am not allowed to go out with friends because of their strictness. If I leave a note telling them I've moved out,... View More
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answered on Apr 8, 2025
Once you turn 18, you are legally an adult in California, which means you have the right to make your own decisions about where you live. Your parents cannot legally force you to stay at home or call the police on you just because you've moved out. If you decide to leave, they may feel hurt or... View More
I was convicted of armed robbery at 17, received a juvenile strike, and was made a ward of the state. I'm now 23 and have no active cases or violent adult charges. I have not had my juvenile record expunged and am unsure about any legal restrictions regarding firearm ownership. Can I legally... View More
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answered on Apr 2, 2025
In California, if you are convicted of a felony, regardless of your age, you are subject to a lifetime ban on gun ownership. This ban applies even to juvenile felony convictions, particularly for serious violent offenses like armed robbery. Your juvenile strike for armed robbery falls into this... View More
If a minor is disowned by their parents and the parents take away items such as devices and car keys, which were bought by the minor or gifted by friends, would the parents be legally required to return those items to the child in California? There are no formal agreements documenting ownership,... View More
answered on Mar 26, 2025
"Child" ?? I'm assuming it's the "child" who is posting this question? Are you 18 or older? There is no legal concept of "disowning" a child. Without knowing what the legal relationship is between you and the parents in this scenario, without knowing your... View More
I am under 18 years of age and received a laptop as a gift from a friend. The gift was explicitly given to me because I don't have any devices. My dad's girlfriend took the laptop from me and gave it to my father because I am grounded, and he plans to return it when I turn 18. My dad has... View More
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answered on Mar 23, 2025
From a legal standpoint, parents generally have the right to control their minor children's property and possessions, including items received as gifts. While the laptop was given specifically to you, in most jurisdictions parents maintain the authority to manage and restrict access to their... View More
My 17-year-old daughter accidentally knocked over a VEO bike while falling off her bicycle, which subsequently damaged a Tesla. The Tesla owner, who was inside the car, intimidated my daughter into texting him and taking responsibility for the damage, making her feel bullied. After the incident, I... View More
answered on Mar 4, 2025
Didn't directly hit the Tesla? She set it in motion so she is liable... whether she admitted liability or not. I would expect a typical driver to be rude after receiving a call like yours. You're refusing to take responsibility for your daughter's negligence that resulted in... View More
I am a minor interested in working, and my parents are willing to sign a work permit for a specific paid internship in San Pablo. Without my parents' knowledge, I want to use that signed work permit to apply for other jobs by changing only the business name. I am also pursuing emancipation,... View More
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answered on Feb 25, 2025
No, altering a work permit without authorization is not legal in California. Changing the business name on your work permit would constitute falsification of an official document, which can lead to serious consequences including fines and potential criminal charges.
Work permits for minors... View More
In 1997, when I was 15, I was involved in an offense that was not related to theft or business, and my juvenile records remain unsealed. I am about to undergo a background check conducted by a government agency, which will specifically ask if I have ever been convicted of a felony. I'm... View More
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answered on Feb 23, 2025
Here's what you need to know about your juvenile record situation:
In California, juvenile records are treated differently from adult criminal records - they are not technically considered "convictions." Even if your records remain unsealed, juvenile "adjudications"... View More
I'm a parent of a child who was arrested at 12 years old and placed on probation for possessing pills such as metformin and ibuprofen. The authorities dropped an additional charge involving codeine. My child is now 14 and has generally been making progress. However, I've recently... View More
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answered on Feb 19, 2025
Your concern for your child's wellbeing shines through, and this is indeed a complex situation that requires careful consideration. The combination of mental health challenges, substance use, and probation violations creates legitimate worry about your child's trajectory.
From a... View More
I’m applying for a job in California and they are conducting a comprehensive background check. I have a felony from when I was a minor, but my minor records were never sealed. Additionally, I have a felony as an adult from over 20 years ago. If during the job application process I am asked about... View More
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answered on Feb 19, 2025
In California, if an employer doesn't specifically ask about criminal history on their job application, you're not required to voluntarily disclose any criminal records - whether from your juvenile or adult years. This aligns with California's "ban the box" laws, which... View More
I am trying to help a minor who is suffering from both physical and mental abuse by a parent. Despite multiple reports to the local police, no significant actions have been taken, and there are no protective orders in place. What legal steps can be taken to better protect the minor from the abusive... View More
answered on Feb 16, 2025
Your relationship to the child would determine what you could do to protect the child.
My daughters, aged 13 and 12, were involved in an altercation with a boy after school. The boy initiated physical aggression, and my daughters defended themselves. The boy went to the ER for a concussion. Both my daughters were expelled from school. The 12-year-old daughter is not facing probation,... View More
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answered on Feb 16, 2025
Your situation sounds incredibly stressful, and I understand your concern about your daughters, particularly the legal proceedings facing your 13-year-old. The juvenile justice system often operates differently from adult courts, and probation departments can become involved before formal court... View More
The corruption we have encountered is so far unbelieveable, but short story is that the allegations on the intake are ficticious and the family was not properly informed to attend the first hearing and could not present the facts. Fast forward to a year later and trying everything to get the court... View More
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answered on Jan 21, 2025
Your situation sounds incredibly frustrating, and I understand your concern about the jurisdiction issue. Unfortunately, even with evidence countering the initial allegations, the court's jurisdiction doesn't automatically terminate when factors from CA Code 300 are disproven after the... View More
answered on Jan 20, 2025
You will need to better explain your situation.
It is difficult to determine what this exactly means: is it legal for a cps worker to send her hersonal mail to my home address?
It resulted in a fight where the other student used a hand made knuckle weapon.
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answered on Jan 15, 2025
Your situation sounds incredibly serious, and I understand your concern about the school's lack of action leading to this dangerous incident. The fact that another student used a makeshift weapon makes this an urgent safety matter that needs immediate attention.
You should document... View More
I have an arrest at 17 for a stolen car (I never had to go to court for it till this day I’m 18 now) and I also haven’t taken steps to seal it yet but I read online that juvenile records are mostly hidden from most landlords and most employers and even if they did see it they cannot deny my... View More
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answered on Dec 23, 2024
Based on California law, you're generally correct - juvenile records are confidential and have strong legal protections. Most landlords won't have access to these records, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) provides additional safeguards against discrimination based... View More
Are they mostly hidden ? I’m 18 now and only had an arrest at 17 but I never had to go to court + I haven’t took the steps to seal my record yet but I read online that they are mostly not visible to most employers and landlords execpt for law enforcement agencies or the FBI etc is this true ?
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answered on Dec 22, 2024
In California, juvenile records are generally confidential and not available to most employers or landlords. The law specifically protects these records to give young people the chance to move forward without past mistakes following them.
When you were arrested at 17 but didn't go to... View More
I was 17 and got arrested for something minor, (Stolen car) and I got fingerprinted and my mugshot taken and went to jail for a few hours then sent home, I never had to go to court but now I’m 18 I’m wondering if that arrest is visible to most people , Employers, Landlords etc ? Or is it sealed... View More
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answered on Dec 16, 2024
In California, juvenile records don't automatically become sealed when you turn 18. Your arrest record from age 17 might still be visible to employers and landlords unless you take specific steps to seal it.
The good news is that you can petition the court to seal your juvenile records... View More
My county has a child protection system that lies, manipulates, and illegally seizes children targeting women with addiction in their history who lack strong support systems to keep sanity while trying to fight for their only true love in this life. They rip apart families and have no consequence... View More
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answered on Nov 15, 2024
First, document everything meticulously - keep detailed records of all interactions, conversations, and incidents with the child welfare department. Save all emails, letters, court documents, and take notes during phone calls or meetings, including dates, times, and names of everyone involved.... View More
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