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im 17, live in north carolina, and ran away from home. My mom wants me to come back and i know she cant do anything to get me but i was wondering if she could get my friends parents in trouble for letting me stay with them. i read something about "harboring" but i dont know if this is... View More 
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answered on Sep 9, 2020
You are still a child (at least until you turn 18) so your parents certainly can do something to make you return home. As to your friends parents getting into trouble, it is not likely but certainly possible as they are likely committing several crimes such as contributing to the delinquency of a... View More
Hello I have a mother who is borderline emotionally abusive, she tells me i make everyone miserable constantly, blames me for everything that goes wrong and more. I am 16, can I move out and live with a friend legally. Can i get emancipated from her?
answered on Aug 28, 2020
Maybe, but these aren't easy actions to 'win' and it would be something you wouldn't be able to do yourself. To able to file, you have to be 16 (check) and have lived in the same county for 6 months (don't know). To successfully emancipate yourself, you are going to have... View More
I’m 17 and my boyfriend is 24 and we had a baby together but we left his name off Because we was worried he’d get into trouble and get locked up and I don’t want that because I love him and I might be pregnant again with him and I want to be with him but I don’t know if they will throw him... View More
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answered on Jul 20, 2020
A 17 year old is still a child, so yes, you can date if your parents allow it. 16 is the age of consent in North Carolina so unless you were having sex prior to being 16, he won't get into any criminal trouble or be 'thrown into jail (at least likely not for getting you pregnant) - so he... View More
My friend is 14 and pregnant shes cant tell her parents because theyll kick her out like they did to her older sister a few years ago and i dont know how to help
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answered on Jul 16, 2020
Parents are obligated to support their children and are not allowed to unilaterally 'kick them out' without risking being charged criminally. All the 14 year old would need to do is call local law enforcement or DSS if the parents attempt to kick her out and that will put a stop to that.... View More
It’s not a good situation we don’t get a long and he doesn’t want to help me get to work so I can start supporting my family and getting my life together the place I can go to will help me can I just take my kid and go what are my rights
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answered on Jul 4, 2020
You are a child and won't be able to freely decide (or at least as freely as any one in society can) the course of your life until you are 18 or emancipated. So assuming you want to limit your current options to your legal options (which is what someone with a family of their own ought to... View More
Dss will not stop coming to my house looking for my little sister. I willing let them in to look the first time after that I would not let them back in. They then took papers out on me for "contribute to del of a minor" what should I do ? No proof of anything just hearsay. Also can they... View More
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answered on May 22, 2020
My experience with DSS workers is not good. They often seem to gleefully abuse their power based on the flimsiest of evidence or even just their own bias and prejudice. Typically speaking you should never cooperate with DSS. As to what you should do now, you could likely benefit from a... View More
By leave home I mean go to a friends house and be back by state curfew.
answered on Apr 10, 2020
It's certainly illegal based on the COVID-19 rules to stay home unless you are an essential worker or going to an essential workplace, such as a grocery store, to conduct business.... Regardless of your age.
She thinks she can stay with her dad who is a immigrant. She thinks she can go to whatever school she wants and does not have to follow my rules.
answered on Apr 5, 2020
She is still a minor under NC law, unless she has filed a petition to emancipate herself, which is difficult to prove and she would have to show she can provide for herself without assistance, has employment, and a place to live, and is not merely a recalcitrant teenager.
At 18 she will... View More
answered on Mar 18, 2020
yes, and as a minor he will need to have a guardian ad litem appointed as he cannot contract for himself. usually that would be you as his parent.
I live in Wilkes County, North Carolina. The case is also in Wilkes. I will discuss what the case is about in detail upon finding the lawyer I need but it involves a whole lot of hearsay over actual facts. There have been a ridiculous 6 or 7 calls made to DSS, all questionable and none were... View More
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answered on Feb 20, 2020
Your big mistake was cooperating with DSS. The time to have hired an attorney was prior to making that very bad decision. However, you still need an attorney and ASAP but you need a local attorney. So your best bet is to shop around locally - most of the attorneys here will not be able to assist... View More
My step mom stays high all day too on any kind of pill she can get and does meth sometimes with her friend while me and my brother babysit her friends kid. My dad has hit me multiple times, he cussed me out and tells me he hates me all the
Time. My step mom is either passed out high or when... View More
answered on Jan 28, 2020
Sorry to hear you are in such a bad situation. You are doing the correct thing and are entitled to a safe and secure home, free from substance abuse and violence. Things you can do:
1) report the activity to your school counselor and resource office.
2) call the Department of... View More
She repeatedly slapped my daughter in the face she had her by the throat. My daughter want to know if they will report her to dad she has to children that I believe may have seen it she is worried about the kids but that she will get in trouble for hitting her back
answered on Jan 12, 2020
If daughter was not the aggressor and didnt start the altercation, and if she has injuries, then go to the magistrates office and take out assault charges. Nothing prevents aunt from doing the same thing.
Clearly this is an unhealthy family relationship, and I would sever contact until it... View More
Her reason for the ungovernable charge was that I am disrespectful and I do what I want when I want. About ten days ago. She slapped me, so hard I couldn’t hear out of my ear. That entire side of my face went numb. Then I yelled at her that I hated her and hit her arm. When she called the police,... View More
answered on Dec 4, 2019
You have a right to an attorney and one should be appointed to you.
Can someone other then her parent or guardian bail her out?
answered on Nov 24, 2019
Anyone can post the bail money for a person. But be careful interjecting in this situation. If your sister is a minor, its unlikely they would hold her on much of a bond unless the charges were serious.
answered on Nov 1, 2019
A North Carolina attorney familiar with education law, or an educational administrator could probably tell you. But your question remains open for three weeks. Don't drop out. You don't need an attorney to tell you that. Finish school and get a diploma, or things are so bad at your... View More
Father is on drugs and not been seen in awhile. I would like to get my son out of a toxic situation, am I legally aloud to do so even though he as been with grandparents for 6 months? Do they have any rights? I’ve not been served any papers or anything like that. Father and child both reside in... View More
answered on Oct 24, 2019
As a biological parent, you have a paramount right to the physical custody of your children, unless those rights have been terminated or you have been found to be unfit. I suggest you retrieve your child immediately to avoid arguments that you have abandoned the child or abbrogated your rights,... View More
He’s a good kid and doesn’t deserve the crap life he’s been dealt. I live in NC and want to take care of him. If it’s kept very under wraps, could we get away with it? I’m scared if she doesn’t seriously hurt him, he will hurt himself.
answered on Oct 24, 2019
first, any legal action will need to be done in PA as that is where he lives. You can make a report to child protective services but it sounds like that has not effected the desired outcome.
He potentially can file to become an emancipated minor which if granted would allow him to decide... View More
answered on Oct 8, 2019
It depends upon the context. Is it a criminal investigation or testimony (or witness interview) in a criminal case?
If it's criminal, yes. A cop can question a minor as part of a criminal investigation.
If it's civil, it depends on many things and we'd need to know... View More
Phone away her boyfriends grandmother bought my daughter a prepaid phone without my approval legally can I take the phone away what is the law on cell phones and minors
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answered on Sep 27, 2019
Unintelligible means 'impossible to understand. I did not mean for you to think you are unintelligent. As to the phone, yes, you as the parent can control what property your child possesses. So you may take the phone from the child. However, you should return it to the grandmother.
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