Legal Question in Family Law in Iowa
Childs Age
What is the legal age a child can be left alone at home while the parent is at work? Does maturity have any bearing on age? Are there fines if child is under age. What could happen if this is brought up in a court hearing?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Childs Age
The general offense is child endangerment under 726.6 of the Code. There is no specific age cutoff except that a minor is under the age of 18. The key is age appropriate level of supervision. Here is the operative language:
Willfully deprives a child or minor of necessary food, clothing, shelter, health care or supervision appropriate to the child or minor's age, when the person is reasonably able to make the necessary provisions and which deprivation substantially harms the child or minor's physical, mental or emotional health.
Under these facts it is likely punishable as an aggrqavated misdemeanor.
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