I have a friend whose son(17) has left home to an uncles house. Does she have any rights and what are they.

Question

I see some responses. This boy used to come to my house all the time. His parents are not perfect(no one is) but he does not like rules of any sort. (I have a 17 yr old the same way.) at the uncles house he can do as he pleases. The father and him do not get along, but as for abusive, it is not there. His uncle has told him it is ok to quit school and work full time. The aunt and uncle are borrowing money from him to make their house payments. He is a good kid, and his mother is one of my best friends. I am just trying to find out how to help her.

thanks

Answer 1

First there must a reason why he is there. At least he is in a safe place. When he is 18 she is not responsible. That is for her to find out..

Answer 2

she has all right to take him back but if she dose that then you have to think that if the boy did it once then he will do it again and may go farther so  just let him know that she loves him and misses him alot and if he wants to come back he is always welcome to do so and that she will not get mad at him and she will be happy when he comes home just make sure that what happen that made him leave will not happen again

Answer 3

If the mom pays for ANYTHING AT ALL, then yes she does has have rights. Also, if he is younger than 18 he still must be in the care of his guardian unless he was emmancipated.  

Answer 4

Legally, you are an adult the moment you reach age 18. So unless the mother gives her official consent and allows the boy to live with his uncle, she has every right to take the boy back.

But here's where the loophole comes in. If  the boy is being misstreated in any way (not saying your friend does that, I'm quite sure she's a charming person)  He will be allowed to live at a relative's house until he is 18 and can live alone.

Hope this helps your friend!

Answer 5

Since he is still a minor, his mother is responsible for him presuming she is his legal guardian and it's not a shared custody thing with the boy's father.  This is a tricky situation.

She's responsible, for example, if he breaks the law and has to pay damages for graffiti, or if he injurs someone and has to pay for medical bills, etc.  It falls on the parent financially.  The mother is also the one who has to legally sign for him (if he were getting a tattoo or piercing and needed a parent or guardian sig., enroll him in school, write and sign letters to the school if he's absent, etc.).

Obviously the mom can't force him to live at home, he's proved that by moving out.  

My advice would be for her to use tough love and not enable her son to have it easy while living with the uncle.  She should not provide any financial support for him, do not provide a vehicle, car insurance, nothing,  If he wants anything from her, he can move back home and live by her rules.  Since the uncle is going along with this, he can provide for her son financially and every other way because he is already enabling and encouraging the son to not live at home by opening his doors.

You should also suggest to your friend that she seek some counseling to help her cope.  

Best of luck to your friend.