Is there a lawyer in the house?!?

Question

i need help,my friend has a sucky life at home.she has to watch her younger bro & she never gets to have her own fun because of him.her parents always fight & they might get a divorce.she doesn't deserve that life & i know that if she moves in with me & my family,everything would be good for her.could you tell me what we would have to do in order for her to move in with us?she is 14,& so am i,but we are turning 15 in december.please help us; i need to know before we tell our parents!

this is what she typed to me in an email:

"my mom and dad are fighting/ might get a divorce if they keep fighting.umm.my mom hates me one minute then turns around and she thinks were cool again.last night i cried for like.3hours strait and starting to tear up right now thinkin about it.my mom thinks im lezbo cuz ive been hanging out with lorana alot.my parents have no money for me to get new school clothes & supplies.my mom wont let me get a job until im 18 cuz i have to watch my bro & i dont get paid."

Answer 1

The only way she can live with you is with the permission of her parents.  Lots of teens have sucky home lives.  I sure did.  You are a very good friend for caring.  Stick by her no matter what.  If she is being abused it can be reported to Children and Family Services.

Answer 2

First off, i am not a lawyer. But one would have to know where you live to be able to answer that anyways. BUT DONT SAY WHERE YOU LIVE! LOl. Depending on the state you live in, there are laws that can help you. The parents will not doubt have to consent. But, you might be able to call DHS (Department of Human Services) or whatever your state calls it. It is an unsafe living environment and the kids will most likely be taken out. If your family says the daughter can live with you, there is a good chance the parents can agree and the judge could go along with it. Certain states allow minors to declare themselves independant at 17, then she can move in (if all else fails).  

Answer 3

Honey, I feel for you and your friend, but she doesn't need a lawyer, she needs a counselor.  

Her only legal recourse would be to ask a court to declare her emancipated, which usually means she has the financial ability to support herself, or something else has happened that makes it necessary.  Her circumstances wouldn't get it approved.

If your mom is on board with her moving in, then she needs to go to her parents and ask for some temporary time away from home to get some space in there.  If she's their built in babysitter they may not agree, she should have something in the argument ready to cover that (I'll still watch little Billy every Fri/Sun, like usual), so they can't say that's why she can't move out.

Been there done that, two of my older daughter's friends were here for a few months each to get some breathing space.... it's tough being a teenager, but this to shall pass.  :)  Good luck to both, and you're a good friend to care about her, but she needs to work it out herself on her end.