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Kentucky Juvenile Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: What are 17yo runaway rights in KY?

I’m 17 and desperately want to leave home to stay with a friend but I know my parents will call the police if I leave. Will the police look for me to bring me back home? Will my friend (20) get in legal trouble for harboring me?

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Jul 30, 2020

Yes to both. Stay home until you are 18, then you can do as you please.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: My daughter is 17, had a baby 2 months ago, been at her baby’s daddy’s house and refuses to come home. What can I do?

She’s in her senior year this year, so I am still responsible for her attendance. I don’t know what my legal standings are though. Some authorities say she’s considered an adult now because of the baby and her age, but others say she’s still a minor and under my authority. So I’m confused... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Jul 28, 2020

She is still a minor and still under your authority. Take the police and go get her.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: i’m 15 about to turn 16 in october . i plan on running away with one of my friends that’s the same age .

we plan to change our hair and names and head for clarksville . we don’t plan to return . what would be the consequences if found ?

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Jul 10, 2020

Returned to parents and possibly juvenile court.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: how do i get emancipated at 16 in kentucky
Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Jun 8, 2020

You file a Petition for Emancipation in the probate court in the county in which you reside.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: What if someone that’s 17 runs away from home will they get in trouble?
Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on May 19, 2020

Probably not depending on the circumstances.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: If my 16 yr old brother runs away from Indiana and comes to Kentucky can I get in trouble for letting him stay with me?
Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on May 8, 2020

Yes, unless the parents permit it.

1 Answer | Asked in Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: In order to be considered a habitual runaway in KY, are you required to be gone overnight?

I understand that "Habitual runaway" means any child who has been found by the court to have been absent from his or her place of lawful residence without the permission of his or her custodian for at least three (3) days during a one (1) year period. Would this include a youth who has... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Apr 28, 2020

It wouldn’t encompass the returns the same day, but it would cover the overnights on three separate occasions or one three day jaunt.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: can I leave my home if I’m 16 and live with someone else if I make good grades, get a job, and prove I’m safe?

I’m 16, going to be 17 in November. I’ve been researching for months but not many answers. I want to live with someone else other than my parents that adopted me, without going back into foster care. I make good grades, I haven’t been suspended or even had a detention in 3 years. I don’t... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Mar 8, 2020

You can live somewhere else with your parents permission. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until you reach legal age.

1 Answer | Asked in Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: Police officer took 12 year old daughters phone and interrogated her without my consent?

I have a 12 year old daughter in the 7th grade today a police officer went to the school took her cell phone, made her give them the passcode interrogated her all without my consent. She snuck on her apple watch to call and tell me they had her phone and refused to give it back. When I arrived to... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Mar 4, 2020

Yes. That appears to be actionable.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: I’m 16 years old and live in scottsville ky I want to be emancipated but don’t know how to go about it

I currently live with my aunt and my mother passed away 3 and a half years ago and I don’t really know my dad , I have personal reasons for why I want to be emancipated how would I go about it ? And is there anyone that could help?

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Feb 28, 2020

You should go to the clerks office at the courthouse and ask them for forms such as a petition for emancipation. Fill it out, give notice to everyone and ask them to set it for a date certain.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: I’m 17, what would happen if I ran away?

I’m 17 years old and I have had a very rough life. I spent years of my life getting abused by my stepfather and I finally reported him, I then had to move in with my grandmother I was grounded for months after the report and constantly told I was “ruining the family” and it was my fault. I... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Feb 24, 2020

Highly unlikely you can do anything without involving cps. You might consult an attorney but you are underage do you can’t sign a contract for someone to represent you. You might try a pro se application to the court and see if the court would emancipate you.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: I am 16 years old about to be 17. I live in Kentucky. What are the laws about runaways? Can I go without the law infor
Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Feb 22, 2020

They find you and bring you back to your custodians.

1 Answer | Asked in Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: 15 year old son, on probation with the juvenile system, keeps running away from home to friends houses on weekends

He calls us whenever he is ready for us to come pick him up (when convenient for him) and threatens that if we don't come "now", he's gone again until he feels like coming back. If we know he's not in danger, do we "have" to get him right away? Are we legally in... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Feb 8, 2020

If he’s on probation, report him to the court as violating hi probation. Part of his probation requires him to be compliant d we ugh the rules of the home. That will give you some added protection if he. Onto yes to run away.....

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Civil Litigation, Federal Crimes and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: Idk what to do!??

Me, my brother, his GF & her brother went to get her clothes that one of her ex-friends wouldn't give back. We thought maybe they would be thrown out or something but nothing like what took place. I was driving & carry a pistol on my hip when we get there she knocks on the door &... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Feb 6, 2020

Copy his FB posts and report to the local authorities.

1 Answer | Asked in Education Law and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: is it considered trespassing if a student is doing online schooling but is enrolled at the school, if he is on campus?

My boyfriend is enrolled in the Shelby county public schools district, and has one regular class at collins highschool and the rest of his classes are online. he goes to the atc for a welding class then a bus brings him back here, tuesdays and thursdays so he can stay and get work done then take... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Jan 21, 2020

Yes, unless he’s in the halls at the time of his welding class. Schools have the authority to limit or exclude any person from the premises who is not licensed to be there.

1 Answer | Asked in Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: If a cps case was opened to and they decided to take children out of the home, could a 17 1/2 yr old decide where they g

Would a 17 1/2 year old be able to decide to go into a placement or be able to choose a safe place like a friend or family members home to go to if a cps case we're opened and they decided to remove the children from the home in the state of Kentucky

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Jan 20, 2020

Most likely great deference would be given to where the child wants to go.

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: My friend has to go to court this is his 1st time they have see him but he had a cdw he has been seeing and now he is

Getting charged with disorderly conduct and theft and want to know what a re they gonna do in court

Matt Schalk
Matt Schalk
answered on Jan 11, 2020

I assume your friend as a juvenile. He needs to contact an attorney who handles criminal law.

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: I am in Oregon. My daughter is 17, in Kentucky. She is a status offender, CPS is involved for abuse inquiry.

For a couple of years my daughter has been in and out of trouble at school and home (promiscuity, unruly behavior, possible drug use, sneaking out.) In November, she was diagnosed with severe depression, anxiety, and PTSD and prescribed prozac, which she has since run out of and it has not been... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Jan 10, 2020

You should file a motion for change of custody in the county in which she resides in Kentucky. They would certainly let her live with you prior to placing her with DJJJ.

1 Answer | Asked in Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: My son is 15 and was charged with alcohol intoxication in a public place. What will happen

His father and I didn't know he had it. We found out later that night it was given to him by our neighbor when our son went to get hay for the horses.

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Dec 17, 2019

Probably volunteer work and a dismissal.

1 Answer | Asked in Juvenile Law for Kentucky on
Q: If a 23 year old has a baby with a 15 year old can he go to jail if her parents know she is with him. Kentucky.

My brother in law has a baby with a girl and she refuses to leave the premises. She has assualted others in the house and always yells and fights. If i call the police will i go to jail or will he?

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Dec 2, 2019

You probably should file it as an eviction to get her out. Once the authorities delve into a pregnant 15 yo by a 23 yo, he may be looking at statutory rape or UTWAM charges. I wouldn’t involve the police.

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