Legal Question in Family Law in California

17 y.o. son moves out, our immediate rights/responsibilities.

Our 17-1/2 y.o. son moved to his girlfriends parents house yesterday. This was a sudden and unannounced action that he informed my wife of at 2pm yesterday (Tues 3/2).

After I got home from work, I spoke with the girls father and he indicated he was aware of, and approved of, my son's move. He did say that he had only agreed to the move if my son provided a written consent from us (we have not).

My wife and I will meet with the other parents today at 5pm.

We do not know these folks at all, but don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling about adults that would accept a child into their house without any contact with the other parents first.

To keep ALL of our options open (heck, we might even let him stay!) is there anything we need to do today?

Notify police within 24hrs., contact the local DA...?

Any help is greatly appreciatede, Thanks.


Asked on 3/03/04, 7:54 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Donald Holben Donald R. Holben & Associates, APC

Re: 17 y.o. son moves out, our immediate rights/responsibilities.

May want to notify police in order to make certain they have a report. Until son is 18, you are responsible and even if you allow this to happen or more likely, do not have a say, child protective services will come your way if something happens. Next and maybe most important, is your son's girlfriend under age. May be a legal problem there.

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Answered on 3/03/04, 11:11 am


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