What is "Emancipation"?

The act of freeing someone from restraint or bondage. For example, on January 1, 1863, slaves in the confederate states were declared free by an executive order of President Lincoln, known as the "Emancipation Proclamation." After the Civil War, this emancipation was extended to the entire country and made law by the ratification of the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution. Nowadays, emancipation refers to the point at which a child is free from parental control. It occurs when the child's parents no longer perform their parental duties and surrender their rights to the care, custody and earnings of their minor child. Emancipation may be the result of a voluntary agreement between the parents and child, or it may be implied from their acts and ongoing conduct. For example, a child who leaves her parents' home and becomes entirely self-supporting without their objection is considered emancipated, while a child who goes to stay with a friend or relative and gets a part-time job is not. Emancipation may also occur when a minor child marries or enters the military.

Copyright © 2005 Nolo

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NAN - January 2, 2006 2:15 AM

WHAT IS THE LEGAL AGE A TEENAGER CAN LEGALLY MOVE OUT OF A PARETS HOME. & IF THE CHILD DOES LEAVE WHILE NOT OF LEGAL AGE WHAT CAN THE PARENT DO TO PREVENT THIS?

THANKS
NAN

MissG - February 9, 2006 4:00 PM

It is my understanding that a teenager can move out at the age of 17 in SC, but that the parents are still legally responsible for the teen until he/she turns 18.

I don't understand the logic in it and have been persuing answers to what the parent's rights are in these circumstances.

We may be moving to another State and have no idea what to do if our teen moves out at 17 and we move have to move away.

Does anyone have any answers?

t - February 19, 2006 4:41 PM

it's our understanding - from a cop a few months ago the age is 16 at which you can't make them do anything anymore (emancipation also). found this out when trying to track down our 16 yr old daughter who didn't come home for the first time that night. the kids are all aware, also, that they have the freedom to do as they please once they are 16. makes it extremely difficult for parents to be parents, and yet still remain responsible for what their kids decide to do - because they can.

kim - May 30, 2006 2:53 AM

I am from South Carolina.I have 3 teens. At this time 1 has run away or as the local police say - she moved out. The local police tell her she can move out at 17 and there is nothing we parents can do. My Question is where is my Constitutional right to parent my children?It is time the parents of South Carolina take back control of our teens. Do we not have the right to to decide care,custody and control of our children?

Kim - May 30, 2006 4:52 PM

As I have been told - The issue of 17 year olds in South Carolina fall in a gray area.I have been in contact with many goverment offices.The Attorney Generals office is send me anything they have on it.I want to form a group and change what the police are telling our teens and take back control- may even mean going to the SUPER. Court but we have Constitutional Rights as parents and South Carolina is walking all over our rights.Anyone whom would like to join in my fight for our rights can contact me at akprivette@yahoo.com

Chloe - June 27, 2006 5:59 PM

I think people should look at the pic pisture. What is wrong with your child moving out at 17. There are kids out there that are in a bad home. I think the system is all messed up. You can smoke and go to war to get yourself killed at 18, but you can't drink. It's not about age it about responsibility.

Kim - July 12, 2006 6:21 AM

To address the above comment;
I am not so much against 17 year olds moving out as I am that we parents could be force to foot the bill for their mess ups.I agree that some kids are in bad homes and there are laws in place to protect those kids.We now need laws on our books to protect us parents from out of control teens.
As far as the drinking age- well- in SC you can drink in your parents home - if your parents purchase it for you legally -under 21- you just can not drink any where else. You can look this up under S.C. Code of law-not sure of law code without looking it up- I think it is under title 20 but not 100% sure. You can also check SC teen law.

Samantha - July 14, 2006 1:27 AM

I'm 16 turning 17 in september. i live with both of my parents and i'm miserable. i love my mom with all my heart but my dad is an alcoholic and he doesn't treat me good. i've begged my mom to let me move in with my aunt but no. i can't ask her to divorce my dad because she loves him and i don't want her to make a sacrifice like that for me. i want to move in with my boyfriend but i don't know if i can or not. could anyone tell me if it's legal? oh and he's 18 if that makes a difference... thanks

Ray - September 18, 2006 9:39 AM

I live in SC (york County) My son has a friend whos family is divorced. he lives with his mom , But she is milking the state for all its worth, they live in a homeless shelter and this kid is misreable. we have offered to let he live with us and we will take care of him till his mom gets it in her head to get off her butt and quit living on the state (she has a degree in acounting)he is 15 , can he legaly live with us without his moms approval, is dad is out of the picture. if he ran away and stayed with us could we get in trouble . and how much and who could i contact to make this happen. This is a very bright kid going downhill fast . his mom does not even stay with him in the homeless shelter , she is over a friends house most of the time.

Shalundra Bruton - December 13, 2006 10:48 AM

I have a niece who turned 16 yrs. old 11/24. She has suffered emotional trauma and physical/ verbal abuse for the past few years in her home. The current living condition with her mother and step father is not healthy for her. She has been begging and pleading for help. Her mother refuses to grant her the right to live with her paternal grandparents, who can provide a better living environment and parental guidance. Recently she ran away and was gone for 2 days. There has been reports of abuse in the past. She refuses to return home and wants to live with my parents and transfer schools. What can she do?

eddie - December 13, 2006 10:06 PM

As a soon-to-be seventeen year old i think parents should support their children in their decisions. Parents should consider their children, not just themselves, when they make decisions and provide support when their child wants to take a big step such as this. My father(single parent) says he will not let me leave, so i will be going without his knowledge or his consent. Parents should at least let their children attempt to make it on their own, so the children don't have to sneak off like myslef.

annie - December 18, 2006 1:06 PM

There is way too much misleading info leading to one major question....What is the legal age a child can legally move out. Our attorney says not until 18 without permission.

jessica - January 2, 2007 10:36 AM

Me and my sister both are also about to turn 17 and I have recently learned from a friend about the inbetween age where your not an adult and your not a child, it was described to me as legal limbo. Anyways im trying to find out as much info as possible because i plan on moving out soon and i just wanted to know if my parents could bring me back homebecause im not emancipated? Also a very good point was made, some teens need to be able to move out. For example, Im an honor roll student, Im in the top of my year, and i manage to keep a full time job, but it will never be enough for my parents and if they dont let me move out, i plan to drop out of school,even though i have already been offered 3 scholarships.

alyssa - January 8, 2007 7:45 PM

I am 16 and i am pregnant with my boyfriends baby. My parents have been making both my life and his life miserable. We plan to get married very soon, we hope, or at least in a few months. My parents yell at us and tell us that I have to be 17 before I can even walk out of the house legally without permission. And they will not sign a paper for marriage, and say that I have to be 18 before I marry my boyfriend. Is it legal for me to move in with my boyfriend, marry my boyfrend, or spend a weekend with him without my parents permission? He is 18, if this makes a difference. Thanks-

MamaL - January 28, 2007 5:11 PM

The point to the young people on this page, sometimes you trade one problem for another, such as leaving with no means of support and no education. My daughter could not hardly wait to move out when she was 18, which she did while still in school. She lied to friends and told themr we kicked her out. She was soon into cutting classes, staying out late and drinking and drugs. She then moved up north, where she is now pregnant, working and trying to finish school while helping pay all the bills. She had to make that bed....now she is having to lay in it. If she were to call and need help, I would send her a card to a food store, buy her some cloths or get her a gas card...oh, wait, she hasnt got her liscence yet...but I will not support her and HER bad choices, just as my parents did not support their children who made bad choices.
Now our 16 year old is thinking the same way, but has no job, no money saved, bad grades....what are you young people thinking?????

Mike - April 9, 2007 9:32 AM

does this law apply to even children at age 17 who are in foster care is what im trying to figure out

jennie - April 17, 2007 11:33 AM

what you teens don't realize is (and don't seem to care) that your parents love you and worry about you. They want to make sure you are able to take of yourselves before you make the big leap into adulthood.
you have no clue about how difficult it is out there when you can't depend on mom and dad to fix your problems. Most of the people i know who moved out before they were a functioning member of society regret it. Also many kids who easily reject their parents come running back and expect their parents to let them move back in. And of course since their parents are legally "responsable" they have to let them back. That's not fair at all.

JKing - May 3, 2007 6:14 PM

If you are 17 and live in new york but runaway to S.C can you still be considered a runaway if there legal age is 17?

mrstag - May 3, 2007 10:52 PM

My 17 yr old niece lives in an abusive situation in SC. Her parents have given her permission to come live with us in another state. We would prefer to have her emancipated so that her parents can have no say-so in the decisions regarding her life (they are abusive, drug addicts). I cannot find any information on the emancipation process. Does anyone know where to start?? Thanks for your help!

REE - May 30, 2007 8:10 AM

Im 17 live in florida i want to move out my mom wont let me altho my boyfriend owns a house and is willing to sign it over to me as a gift so that I would own it and now if i moved out of my moms boyfriends house and moved in to my house would i be considerded as a runaway altho im at home?

heather - June 19, 2007 11:46 AM

i am 17 and live in louisiana and i was woundering if i move out with out my parents permission adn have a job and a place to stay can the police make me move back home cause i'm not emanciated ? please let me know as soon as possible thank you !!!

Kate - June 21, 2007 3:07 PM

I am 16 years old and for insurance purposes my parents and I think my being emancipated to solve the situation. Can I still live with my parents and be emancipated?

Sadie - March 25, 2008 12:03 PM

see, what alot of these parents dont understand,
is that not all parents are decent.
you may love & care for your children.
but that doesnt mean everybody does the same.
i think laws regarding emancipation should be more lenient.
17 is a fine age to move out,
when youve already been through experiences a 30 year old wouldnt know what to do with.
there need not be any "taking back yor parental rights"
because in doing so,
you could be adding on that extra year to some kids life that will be the end.
children kill themselves because of the pressure.
being that there are no emancipation guidelines in SC,
i think that you shouldnt force your children to comply with you & your rules.
let them make their mistakes, but be willing to take them back when they fall.
its not about property & ownership.
though, it seems i read alot of that today.
love your kids,
dont push them away from you because you cant handle that 1 year of early separation..

dayday - June 4, 2008 12:32 AM

yes i am 16 and i have a 18 year old boyfriend im wanting to move in with him within the next few months i wanted to know if my parents could stop me and i am about to turn 17 in 4 months

Pamela - June 23, 2008 9:00 AM

My daughter is 16 and lives with her father in Goose Creek she wants to live with me full time in Moncks Corner but he wont let her. Last November there was an incident in her fathers house and he hit her. DSS got involved and I was told that her case was only the 2nd case in the past 20 years that DSS walked away from. DSS was prepared and recommended removal of all 3 children in the home and to assign a Gaurdian. Because we already have a Guardian assigned they dropped the case because we agreed to handle it in a private matter. It was never addressed again after leaving court. She was returned to her fathers house where she currently lives with a step mother who is only 9 years older than she is. My ex won't let her live with me because he is still punishing me for ending our marriage and wants to control and make me suffer. Really hes making everyone suffer and the Gaurdian isnt doing anything about it. He has lots of money and I dont! Can she leave at 16 or does she have to wait until she's 17 so I won't get into trouble. Help! I don't know what else to do . If she doesn't come to me she going to end up on the streets. She can't take it at her fathers house anymore.

brenda - July 9, 2008 3:27 PM

I see the question being asked but still not a concrete answer

What age can a child move to the other parents home without any court issues arising?

katelyn - July 30, 2008 5:58 PM

i am 16 years old and would really like to get out of my house and live with my 18 year old boyfriend. i am getting a job and going back to school when i live with him and i will have my CNA by the end of this year. i still have goals i just want to get out of my house because of the way they put me down and now are trying to keep me away from my boyfriend. is it legal for a 16 year old to move out in south carolina?

angela - August 13, 2008 10:52 PM

my 17 yr. old has ran away twice. she wants to live with her boyfriend of two months.we have never been abusive. she is in her senior yr. of high school trying to talk her into finishing but i know if she leaves she'l quit. what are my options and how can i make her stay legally. Because the law says 17 she has an attitude about she can leave and we cant stop her.Help whats a parent to do.She comes from a good home. want to change the law to 18 or at least graduated from high school except for bad homes then the court can decide but dont know how

gail - August 18, 2008 1:14 PM

if a 16 yr. old wants to change custodial parent or chooses to leave home will he be made to return to his mother's home

Malik - August 19, 2008 4:33 PM

Nobody is answering the question. I'm 17 and i'm trying to move with the family I want to be with but they've got me stuck in this foster care system and I want to know if I leave can they bring me back or will the family get in trouble.

katelyn - September 11, 2008 3:54 PM

i am 16 years old and i want to move out of my parents home. in the emancipation laws i have found in sc you have to be moved out of your house to be concidered for emancipation. is their a way to get around that requirement. i already have a job and i am planning o n moveing in with my boyfriend who is 18,but i am still going to go to school going to help with the bills and other things a responsiable adult does. i need to move out because of my situation and it isn't like i am going to depend on him when i move out we are going to depend on eachother. he is in the army. if there is any way you can help me please let me know

STACY - October 10, 2008 10:41 AM

SO WHAT IS A PARNET TO DO IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE ANY PARENT HAVE TO GO THROUGH WITH ANY OF THIS ALL I CAN DO IS CRY, SCREAM BE DEPRESSED IT SUCKS ALL I DO IS ASK WHAT COULD I HAVE DONE DIFFERENT SHE HAD EVERYTHING AND NOW ALL SHE DOES IS SLAP ME IN THE FACE WITH EVERYTHING ITS HER WAY OR NO WAY A FIGHT A YELLING MATCH WHAT GETS ME IS WE ALL BEEN THERE DONE THAT HOW COULD A 17 YEAR OLD GIRL GET TO A 40 YEAR OLD WOMAN WOW I THOUGHT I WAS STRONGER THAN THAT SO NOW SHE WANTS OUT OF THE HOUSE I KNOW THIS WILL BE NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FOR MY DAUGHTER SHE AND HER FRIENDS ARE AT THAT STAGE OF LIFE WHERE THEY ARE TRYING NEW THINGS WHAT DO YOU DO YOU CANT BE WITH THEM 24/7 YET I FEEL I HAVE THESE LAST FEW MONTHS BEFORE SHE IS 18 TO TRY MY HARDEST TO TURN THINGS AROUND BUT ITS NOT WORKING THE WAY I PLANNED IT ALL OUT LOL AHHHHHHHHH MY HUSBAND IS AT HIS WITS END SO THERES MORE DRAMA WELL THANKS FOR LISTENING I DO FEEL A LITTLE BETTER I HOPE EACH AND EVERYONE OF US HAS A GREAT OUTCOME WITH OUR CHILDREN STAY STRONG AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL

Ashley - November 8, 2008 11:58 PM

I am 16 yrs old i turn 17 in less than a month. My parents are divorced and my mom in my primary care giver. But inlight of receant events i've started living with my dad. But i am a very independent person. i plan on graduating over the summer due to me taking extra classes. and since living with my dad ive decided that id rather live on my own. since im living with my dad he won't really need to pay child support to my mom. and inlight of that i don't want him to go to court to get custody of me. that id rather live else where but im not really sure if that is legal?

Doug - January 12, 2009 9:05 PM

Hang in there, this is a little long...

We've been having trouble with my step-daughter for years. On numerous occasions we would call the police to our house for a "disturbance" only for them to tell us there was nothing they could do. She would run away only to show up a couple of days later. She has no interest in school and failed most of her high school classes when she was in school. We tried a $1,000/month private school but the grades didn't change. Next we sent her to live with her father in Texas where he also enrolled her in an expensive private christian school. While there she saved enough money in 9 months to hop a Greyhound for SC after she turned 17. After (3) months she went out on a weekend and decided not to come back. Of course we reported her missing and when we did find her location the police could only check on her well being but could not make her come home. She came to the house a few days later where her mom had her suitcase packed but wouldn't let her in. She returned about 10 minutes later with (4) police cars. With the officers she retrieved her clothes and when done, one of the officers ask if that was everything, she said "yes". He then went on to explain that she had now vacated the residence and that she could no longer return without an invitation.
The next Saturday night we got a call from the Sheriff's office that she had been in a car accident(teenage boys, backroads & beer) and was being transported to MUSC. A lacerated liver, broken vertebrae, broken shoulder, and broken thumb. (1) week in ICU and a few days on the initial visit and a week and a half on 2nd visit. She had someone with her almost 24hrs/day while in the hospital. Of course we had to bring her home to nurse her back to health. She needed help with everything, getting up, walking, going to the bathroom, eating & drinking. She doesn't wear the back brace any more but still has the internal drain tube in her side leading to a bag she carries. She has a few more procedures this month and she should be in the clear.
We let her go out unsupervised for the first time after the accident last Friday night with instructions to be home by midnight. Guess that was too much to ask of a heavily medicated teenager with a drain tube sticking out of her. After she left she sent a number of text messages explaining that she would be home when she felt like coming home. She showed up on our front porch this afternoon (Monday) begging for her pain medication. Of course the fragile, needy, pain ridden teenager has been replaced by the cursing and yelling incorrigible teenager.
The recommendation from the local law enforcement is to file with the municipal court to have her evicted. So, I spent $65, papers to be served tomorrow where she will have (5) days to vacate the property.
I guess we have too many rules. My expectation is that overnight stays must be approved(we want to know where you will be and with who), you be in school and passing all classes (I do consider a "D" passing), help out with household chores (unload the dishwasher and takeout the garbage) and treat your parents with respect.
As far as the underaged postings on this board, who doesn't think there parents are stupid when they are 16? No 15-17 year old wants their parents telling them what to do. Everything the parents want is unfair and stupid. All I can say is grow up! If I could do it over I would live with my parents until I was at least 25. It's a tough world out there and you need all the help you can get.
I don't know where this 17 year old thing comes from. The only thing I can think of is that the schools are so crappy and overcrowded that this will help increase the drop out rate which will save the state money. Which... will in turn create more lower income dysfunctional families with teenagers itching to move out at 15. Just a never ending cycle of poverty.

GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER SOUTH CAROLINA LAW MAKERS!

randy - January 21, 2009 7:43 PM

im 15 and ill be 16 in 2 months and my brothers and i feel that were not being treated the way we should, we're abused in all ways, we have different fathers, and im not allow to see him or my grandparents, i just want to know what can we do for our granparents to get custody of us.

Allie - February 2, 2009 9:22 AM

wow! i don't know if it makes me feel better or worse to see that i am not the only parent out there having tremendous problems with their teenager. mine is only 14 - almost 15 - and is in detention right now. he thinks he knows everything about life. of course rules don't apply to him, unless their his rules. we are a very strict, religious family, and this is certainly NOT how he was brought up. we moved here from out of state - job reasons - and i have never seen such problems with teenagers before, and now mine is one of them. the system here is so screwed up, it is unbelieveable. as a parent,even if you can't control your teenager's actions, you are still held accountable for them. 20-30 years ago that would have made sense. but my son is so aggressive and violent at home, that there is no way i can control what he chooses to do. he is currently removed from the home, and i hate to say it, but i am glad. SC - you need to WAKE UP! this is NOT the 1950's anymore, and even though sometimes Father Knows Best, our 14,15, 16 year olds do not know best, yet they think they do. We need to give more power back to the parents, back to the police, back to the schools. We have the tail (teens) wagging the dog (authority)!

Doug - February 11, 2009 8:08 PM

Parents - One thing that South Carolina does have going for it is John de la Howe School "South Carolina's home for children". Check out the web site at http://www.delahowe.k12.sc.us/. One of my wife's co-workers sent her son there for a month and it caused a dramatic long lasting change in him. Be tough and take care of the issue when it first comes up at 13-15 years old. By the time they are 17 it is too late.

Patterson - February 16, 2009 7:10 AM

I am 17 years old. My parents are divorced. I was living with my mom in Florence,SC until she passed away in 2006. I was 14 at the time. Then, my dad took me into his home in Columbia,SC where I'm currently living now. My dad has remarried & has 2 other kids. My step mom & I never really got along. We are always in arguments over stupid stuff. I can't live here anymore. I've ran away from home before & they made me feel so low that I've even tried to cut myself, but my step mom stopped me. I can't live my life like this. They are emotionally hurting me & they don't want me to enjoy my life. I want out. since I'm 17, I can move out & go stay with my aunt, but I know that my dad is still responsible for me until I am 18. Can I still move out without his permission?

Leroy - March 8, 2009 6:40 AM

My brother-n-laws new girlfriend has a 14 year old daughter.The daughter has come to live with me and my wife, because they don't have a place to live. They have been living in there car , or where ever they could find a place to stay for the night. We've let them stay with us on many nights. But they to lazy to look for a job and try to find a place to live. All they are worried about is where they're going to get there next fix. They say that they are going to move in with his father but he is as bad on drugs as they are. Her daughter is a very bright girl and if she is put in that household were afraid of what will happen to her. She is only 14 and we don't really have the right to tell her she can stay with us if her mom says she has to go . But we don't want to she anything happen to her. But we don't know what else to do. If anyone has any ideas please let us know

SIE - April 1, 2009 8:31 AM

WHEN CAN A CHILD IN SC SAY WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE IS IT 16 OR 17

Angela - April 25, 2009 3:36 PM

My daughter turned 17 in march of this year. 2 weeks ago she left home, she has never been a child who caused us a lot of trouble, she never liked school much but she was never wild. we always knew who her friends were,where she was and she was home when we told her to be. Until about 3 weeks ago, she met up with an old friend from 8th grade who seems to know how to work the law against her parents. she invited my daughter to move in with her, i know now that this girl has been in trouble with the law for assault and shoplifting. the only rules inposed on my daughter were to finish high school and a few chores at home. she has never been abused or mistreated. I feel like i suddenly dont know who this child is, and i dont care what the state of sc says she is a child. she doesnt even have a drivers license neither does her friend. she lied to us and told us she had made a deal with the girls parents to pay rent and help with other bills... i spoke to the girls mother and neither my daughter or her daughter had asked her about this, basicly this other little girl knows her parents cant make her move out but she comes and goes as she pleases. My husband and i have looked into and discussed many options about how to deal with our daughter... short of locking her up in mental hospital all we can really do is wait for her to wake up and realize she is not mature enough to take care of herself and really now she is only staying with someone else and having them take care of her.I feel like the state has taken all the power away from the parents and placed into the has of the children... what good can come from this?
She has broken our hearts and now i feel like i have to keep a much closer eye on her two younger brothers...

Doug - June 22, 2009 10:44 PM

Response to Angela: The other girl's parents can have their daughter & your daughter evicted. Been there done that. $65 dollars at the courthouse and the constable will serve the papers. If she vacates your residence under supervision of law enforcement it is still wise to file the eviction so it is on record. No, you don't have to tolerate your 17 year olds(and older) coming and going from your residence as they please.
The other parents appear to be very weak and that is why your daughter is there. I am also sure that none of this girl's privaledges have been cut off, phone, computer, TV, & parents buying her things. The thing to remember is that the parent owns the residence & the belongings in the residence-not the child. Your problem is with the other girl's parents. Parents have a lot more power than they realize but they need to work together.
As far as locking her up, you have to prove that she is a danger to herself in front of a judge. She can then be taken into custody for substance abuse and mental evaluation and hopefully you won't get to that point.

kay`flight - December 3, 2009 2:31 PM

im soon to be sixteen, and my father and i have agreed that i can move out at 17, my question is, are my parents still responsible for me?

Doug - December 19, 2009 7:23 PM

kay'flight - Yes, your parents are still legally responsible for you. One of the bigger issues that you would face would be health care where you would need your parent's signiture for treatment. You would need to be legally "emancipated" and would have to request that from a probate judge.

Sara - January 14, 2010 10:22 AM

In SC your parents are not responsible for you after you leave the home at age 16. I know from personal experience! I left home at 16 and got into some trouble and my folks didn't have to help at all. I went back home because they allowed it, the police said they didn't have to, and stayed until I was 18. When I ran away at 16 the police told my parents that there was nothing they could do to bring me home. And that since they had a report made with the police dept. my parents were no longer responsible for me and whatever laws I may break. Well, now I am almost 30 and married with two children of my own. My husband also has two teens. One is out of the house already (she is 18) and the other is 16 and way out of control. She told my husband she is moving out because she is sick of the fighting. I have to say the only fights that occur in our home are the ones between our teen and my husband over why she isn't home and why she thinks she runs the show. My step-daughters mother never wanted to raise her own children and I have been trying to give them the love they missed from her for the last two years (I am not trying to replace her at all; I have a good relationship with the teens). My husband is a very loving and devoted father. His whole world revolved around his kids. The problem is not us as the parents, it is the child. Last school year we caught her sneaking out and coming home drunk, smoking pot and ciggs, skipping school (so much she almost flunked), she got pregnant and we took her for and abortion, and that isn't even the half of it. I know that if my husband were stricter some things never would have happened. If he were the type of parent to check up on his child or the type that went through their things some things could have been prevented. But he isn't like me and I do not attempt to discipline his kids since they were almost grown when I entered the picture. I have learned what does and doesn't work because I know what did and did not work with me. I wish I had never screwed up like I did when I was younger but I was so blessed to have the parents I had. Now I take all their advice because I've finally learned that they are wiser than I am. I wish my step-daughter would see we aren't trying to run her life we are trying to prepare her for the real world. And she isn't mature enough to handle real life issues. Heck, she only got her license in April and has had 4 accidents and been pulled over several times. She has broken so many things on her car that I've lost count! And who does she go to to fix these problems? US! She can't manage money and is always broke. What does she do when she is broke and needs gas? COMES TO US! We say no, you want to be treated like an adult then stay out of the streets and save your money. These kids are crazy to think that they can make it on their own! You can't even rent a place under the age of 18! Yes some kids should find alternative placement if they are in a bad situation but you need to really think about what "bad" is. Bad isn’t your parent telling you to stay in school and pass and help around the house and to speak to them respectfully and to be home at a certain time. That is good parenting. And yelling at a child isn't abuse. Cussing at your child isn't abuse; it just isn't always a good idea. The system is messed up; we are unable to punish our children for fear of DSS getting involved. Its time to give power to the parents and stop giving it to the kids!

Doug - January 19, 2010 10:34 PM

Sara - If your 16 year old moves out are you going to take her off your health insurance? When MUSC calls you at midnight asking permission to perform a procedure to save your daughter's life due to a car accident, what will you say? When the medical companies start coming after you for over $300,000 in medical bills what will you tell them? Who do you think these people will go after - the kid or the parents? Everything you said is correct except for this scenario. And NO, MUSC will not perform any follow up procedures without the parent's permission. I speak from experience of hearing a 17 year old proclaiming herself emancipated to the medical staff.

valerie - March 2, 2010 10:51 PM

I want to know do a parent have the right to kick there 16yr old out the house. Due because she don't want to go to church, the church they attend requires them to where pants. I do understand and respect the church. But the parent listen to what the Prophet said and let her go so she kicked her out of the house, she was kicked out of the church for wearing pants. My neice been at my house since January 1,2010 and my sister don't do anything for her daughter. She's was told not to do anything for the child by the Prophet of the church. Which I don't think that's fair of the church to do that. And my niece wants to be emancipated from her mother, she'll be 17 in May. There's alot of other stuff behind this situation with this church.

Mary - March 3, 2010 4:26 PM

My 14 year old granddaughter wants to come live with us. Her father refuses. Her stepmother is abusive. Dss has been involved, but didn't do anything. Her father and stepmother lied to police and DSS. Is there anything we can do to get custody of her?

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