Yes. The child would have an attorney, and would be entering a plea with that person's advice, not a parent's. At times, when a judge believes a parent may be acting against a child's best interest, a GAL could be assigned to the case as well.

I don't think you have a valid claim to sue the state for sending you to prison on an adult conviction. Many people under 18 are incarcerated in prisons in Michigan as well as just about every other state.

Unfortunately, no, unless you are wanting criminal charges filed against her - which may become your only option at some point.

If you have the resources, you should look into counseling, perhaps even inpatient.

Probably not best practice for a number of reasons, but I believe if your son is home, the probation officer can visit at any time. Remember, probation is a grace granted by the court as an alternate to jail - or in the case of juveniles, detention.

I would mention this and your concerns to... View More

Yes. Your current license has your birthdate on it, and so when they check it, they will know your age.

No. Courts will recognize either the litigate or a licensed attorney appearing on behalf of the litigate. In some cases a person may have a "next friend" step in his or her shoes and can still have an attorney. The 15 year old in your scenario would not be recognized by a court as a... View More

I, like all lawyers, grow concerned whenever adverbs are used to qualify statements. What does "barely talking" mean? Did you exchange pleasantries or phone numbers? Without knowing what this talk was about, it's impossible to determine your legal exposure.

What seems... View More

Is this a juvenile matter? If so, it sounds like the decision was made to put the case on what's called the consent calendar. Why would your friend want a trial in this case, and possibly face 1) a record (albeit juvenile), and 2) worse sanctions?

It depends on what you are on probation for. If you were convicted of a sex offense, contact with minors might violate a condition of your parole. If you were convicted of something other than a sex offense, then mere "dating" is generally not illegal. But a physical relationship could... View More

She can be charged with assault or domestic violence.

Your daughter should not talk about the situation with anyone and she should consult with a criminal defense attorney if she believes that she may be charged with a crime.

Yes. The relevant statute of limitations is what is important.

LEGALLY you aren't an adult until your 18th birthday.

PRACTICALLY a week is a pretty darn short time for you to be 'found' and returned home, and conversely a pretty darn short time to wait for you to 'make your move'.

Before you do anything however, it... View More

The wonderful thing about HYTA is that upon successful completion, you don't have a criminal conviction, and so you may rightfully report no convictions, and it shouldn't show up on background checks as a conviction. That said, you may have an arrest record, which is an indication that... View More

If you are accused of assaulting the young lady, you could be prosecuted for assault & battery. Assault & battery is a misdemeanor which carries a potential jail sentence of up to 93 days. If you were 17 at the time of the alleged offense, you'd be prosecuted as an adult, not as a juvenile.

Good question. There probably is some interplay regarding what is protected information under FERPA and to whom. I do know that as a ward of the court (which a juvenile is while on probation), a probation officer has a lot of leeway into the child's life, and so I do believe the probation... View More

This scenario falls under what I call the "my house, my rules" law. When you are under 18, and when you live in your parents' house, parents can do what they feel necessary to ensure your general welfare. This includes using any legal means to keep you away from what they believe to... View More

There isn’t an age minimum, but if you’re a minor you’ll need your parent to come with you to the tattoo shop and give permission.

Here is a link to Michigan’s law on tattooing minors.... View More

Since you were a minor, your mother controlled your defense. It’s possible you were appointed a lawyer by the court and your mother talked to the lawyer without your knowledge. Nevertheless, the court believes the lawyer fee was part of your verdict/judgment, and that’s probably written in the... View More

Courts make decisions concerning minor children based on the 12 Best Interest of the Child factors. If a court determines that a parent's home school plan is contrary to the child's best interest, it can order the parents to place the child in a different educational environment. In the... View More

People are charged with contempt when they fail to comply with a court order. The court can give you info on exactly why he’s being charged with contempt.