Legal Question in Family Law in Ohio
Children left alone.
Recently, I have met several people who leave their children at home for short periods of time. One in particular with the older child being 12 and the younger being 10 each day after school. I am not comfortable with this. I am thinking there is a legal age of which a child must reach before being left home alone; a different age a child must be to care for a younger sibling; I realize of course a parent is responsible for anything that happens regardless. Can you give me these legal restrictions.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Children left alone.
There really is no specific age. It depends on the maturity of the child left in charge and the situation of the child being cared for. For example to leave a baby who has just been fed and is asleep in a crib in the care of a 12 year old who has changed diapers and is familiar with the care of that child, is perfectly normal.
Let's assume that we have the same two children with a slightly different set of facts where the baby requires a ventilator to breath and a nurse caretaker to maintain the equipment and an open airway. Now it could be criminally negligent. The same would be true if you left a toddler with an unreliable 12 year old who might leave the house and toddler to go play. It's a situation dependent judgment call.
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