Legal Question in Family Law in Pennsylvania

Re: Child custody of 17 year old

This is more of parenting battle than anything. Please seek counselling to get yourself and your daughter through this period. Your local public health offices can direct you to low or no cost family counselling.

In a very general sense a parent is responsible for a child until the child reaches the age of majority. You are correct that she should get the car titled and insured in her own name. And this should be a condition of her taking the vehicle.

The vehicle is a major issue. A minor cannot title or register a vehicle, in Pennsylvania, without a parent's consent. I would recommend that you NOT give your consent. Operation of the car without proper insurance and registration on public roads is illegal and should not be allowed under any circumstances.

As to child support, those payments are made directly to the custodial parent for use as the custodial parent see fit. A child has no right to the support payment and a non-custodial parent may not discontinue a support payment without a modification of the court order. You have no obligation to do anything with that money other than to manage it as you see fit.

A custodial parent does not have any obligation with respect to college tuition. Though, I should point out, a non-custodial parent MAY have an obligation to pay up to 50% or more of the entire cost of a higher education irregardless of any finacial assistance the child has otherwise secured. A child must make this claim against the non-custodial parent in court.

As to medical insurance that would depend on the contract and the provider. You should consult with your benefits manager at work or directly with your insurer or agent.

You may wish to also examine the issue regarding the age of the young man involved. If he is older than her by more than two years there could be a legal issue involved in that relationship.

Good luck to you and, in my opinion, you have asked the right questions suggesting that you are on the right track.

If I can be of further assistance on this or another matter please contact me.

Regards,

Roger Traversa

email: [email protected]