Teen pregnant at 14, can adoption or abortion be forced on her? rights?

Question

My 14 year old niece is pregnant, her mother who is very mean, tried to force her to have an abortion and then said she'll give the baby up for adoption. Does my niece have any rights? or her boyfriend? Can an adoption or abortion be forced? They are kids themselves but me and my mom said we would help out but my niece mother is so vindictive and evil that she doesn't want anyone to have the baby. We live in Michigan so what are my niece's rights? Could she get emancipated and live me and my mom? Were afraid my niece's mother will make her miscarriage with all thhe stress she'll put on her.

Answer 1

The first answer is correct.  A pregnant teen is considered legally emancipated and can leave her parents home if she likes.  And no, her mother (nor anyone else) absolutely can NOT make her abort or place her child for adoption.

Good for you and your mom for caring and being willing to take her in and help her.  She and her baby are very fortunate to have you in their lives.

Answer 2

neither can be forced upon her.  She has the right to make up her own mind on this.  If the grandmother and an agency get involved, all heck is going to break out.  She won't have a chance.

Answer 3

Thank God for people like you. Please help your neice. She is a mother now and needs all the help she can get. Just go over, pack her bags, and bring her home. Once the baby is born, alot of parents tend to come around and embrace their grandchild. Her mom, I hope, is just in a state of shock. If this is the only time she's acted so poorly, please cut her some slack. Hopefully, by the time the baby is born, her mother will see things differently.

Answer 4

I agree with others that legally she probably cannot be forced to do anything she doesn't want to unless her own health is at issue.  Then the courts would probably defer to the parents wishes.  However, I do not believe 14 is old enough to make life altering decisions.  That is why parents are legally responsible for their children until they are 18.  I imagine the young girl's mother is terrified that her baby has ruined her life.  Fear quite often reveals itself as anger.  Think about it this way, a 14 year old is not going to be able to stay in school full-time and/or find a job that will pay enough to support herself and her baby.  That is what emancipation means.  She is legally on her own.  Her parents have no legal responsibility to allow her to live in their home or to educate her or to feed or clothe her.  Perhaps her mother's attitude is her way of getting reality into her daughter's head.  This isn't a baby doll she'll be bringing home.  She can't ever leave it alone and carry on with her life.  Her life will now belong to her baby.  I think 14 is too young to deal with that.  And apparently so does her mother.

I disagree with her mother's tactics.  She needs to put her own fears and anxieties away for long enough to be rational with her daughter and explain a few realities to her.  And she needs to reassure her daughter that she loves her and only wants what is best for her and the baby.

Do you know how many teen Mom's bring home baby and expect their parents to take care of them both?  Most of them.  If their parents are OK with this then I agree it is in the best interest of the baby.  If the parents are going to spend the next four years screaming at their child trying to make her take care of her own baby, I think the child would be better off anywhere, but there!

I wish the entire family well and hope they are able to come to a decision that is in everyone's best interest.

Answer 5

Go to http://www.origins-usa.org

and http://www.adoptioncrossroads.org

for help!

Answer 6

She is legally free of her mother and father once she got pregnant. She can do what ever she wants with her pregnancy/child without anyone else forcing her to do an abortion or adoption. I think it is great you guys are willing to take her in. I say give her the choice to move in now so that the stress of her mother doesn't impact her pregnancy.

Answer 7

A pregnant teen is considered emancipated, when it comes to her health.  She doesnt need consent for anything, and can live where she pleases. Take her in!!!! She needs loving family!

Answer 8

No adoption/abortion can not be forced on her. Even though she is only 14 y.o. she still has the right to parent if she so chooses. She also has the right to say "Im not ready to be a mommy right now and I want to find a family that can parent through adoption."

It doesn't matter what state you live in, those rights are the same in all 50 states.  To get her emancipated could take years in court.  It would be better to offer to have her come stay with you during the pregnancy and to help her with pregnancy counselling and assistance if she chooses to make an adoption plan or to parent.

Answer 9

According to Michigan law, a child of 14 or older must

consent to the adoption.  Citation:Comp Law 710.43

http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/l...

Your mom may be able to obtain legal guardianship of your niece, or at least, she can be placed in her home through kinship care if CWS gets involved and pulls your niece out of her home.  Consider contacting CWS or social services for information and their help.

see link for information on emancipation in MI:

http://www.kalcounty.com/courts/probate/...

http://www.michiganlegalaid.org/library_...

I can't find anything in the above publications that confirm a child is automatically emancipated because she's pregnant.

Good luck!

Answer 10

Ditto to most of the other responses, she cannot be forced to abort or adopt.  I do hope someone is giving those choices to her as well as keeping them.  14 is young, so either she chooses to keep it and needs support or she needs support for the other two choices.  

But geez, 14 is so young, good luck to your niece she is about to grow up pretty fast.

Answer 11

Oh, I'm so sorry for your niece.  It is wonderful that you and your mother are willing to support her and help her through this.  I'm pretty sure that her mother can't force adoption or abortion on her, but she can make her daughter feel like there's no other way.  I'm not sure of her exact legal rights, but I'm sure some people who are very knowlegable about the laws in specific states will speak up.  Good luck.

Answer 12

yes. she needs to start with emancipation proceedings asap. also you might consider going to court yourself and stating that you think the welfare of her unborn child is in danger. Please do all you can to help her, she will need all of the support and love she can get, sounds like it won't come from her mom. Another place you can try talking to is the local social services dept. (sometimes called child welfare etc.) explain to them what is happening they should be able to answer your questions or direct you to someone who can.

Answer 13

WHY DONT YOU TAKE YOUR NEAE IN SHE CANT BE FOCED ITS HER BODY HER MUM IS OLNY THINKING ABOUT HERSELF NOT THE ONE WHO IS PREGNANT THERE SHOULD BE A PLACE FOR YOUNG PREGNANT WOMEN WHERE THEY CAN STAY LOOK IT UP ON GOOGLE