Legal Question in Family Law in Mississippi

Re: 19-year old's parents won't let go.

I can understand her parents. They are concerned for her welfare. You have no legal standing.

The only way you and she can change that is to get married. Both of you get blood tests and take the results with both driver's licenses to the Circuit Clerk of Wayne County and apply for a marriage license. There is a three day waiting period before the license can be issued. Once issued, you can both go before a justice court judge in any county and get married.

In the mean time, she should be with her folks. it only takes a few days. Surely you can be apart that long.

Once married, you have legal standing.

Re: 19-year old's parents won't let go.

Your question on Father's Day makes it more difficult to keep this response on a professional level. Before getting married, think about the fact that you will not only be marrying her but into her family. If it's still possible, try to move the confrontations with the parents down from the parent level and up from the child level to the adult level. Try to have a minister meet with all of you at a place where everyone will try to be polite and address their concerns. Put yourself in their shoes as if you were to have a 19 year old daughter living with a man without the protections afforded by marriage for her and any children that may be born. Because they object, try to honor their wishes about not living together outside marriage. Try to persuade them that you will not harm their daughter, that you want to protect her, and your intentions are honorable.

In Miss., a parent is responsible for a child until the child turns 21 or is earlier emancipated by marriage, joining the military, or formal decree. The formal decree removes all the disabilities of minority and obligations of the parents to support the child.

Re: 19-year old's parents won't let go.

Your question on Father's Day makes it more difficult to keep this response on a professional level. Before getting married, think about the fact that you will not only be marrying her but into her family. If it's still possible, try to move the confrontations with the parents down from the parent level and up from the child level to the adult level. Try to have a minister meet with all of you at a place where everyone will try to be polite and address their concerns. Put yourself in their shoes as if you were to have a 19 year old daughter living with a man without the protections afforded by marriage for her and any children that may be born. Because they object, try to honor their wishes about not living together outside marriage. Try to persuade them that you will not harm their daughter, that you want to protect her, and your intentions are honorable.

In Miss., a parent is responsible for a child until the child turns 21 or is earlier emancipated by marriage, joining the military, or emancipation. A court can formally recognize the emancipation by a declaration which removes all the disabilities of minority and parental obligations of support.