Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland

Re: Legal Age

We always hear rumors about all kinds of laws concerning the age at which a child can be left alone, but almost all of them are false. The Maryland code does provide that it is a misdemeanor to leave a child under the age of eight alone, or without a babysitter at least thirteen years old. I would never advise anyone that it is therefore okay to leave an eight or nine year old home alone overnight or for any long period. The Department of Social Services, and most judges, would consider that serious child neglect no matter what the law says. Common sense would indicate that some children can be left alone at an earlier age than others. Even the law leaves some things up to the (hopefully) good judgment of parents.