Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

My 17 old girlfriend will be 18 in September she wants to move out of her parents home to live with a friend whose parents have agreed to the move. The parents have been investigated by cps multiple times but pretend to the perfect family every time they appear the girl has had a past of inflicting bodily injury on herself. Is it legal for her to leave her home? Or will she be forced to go back and stay. We live in Texas


Asked on 5/13/12, 7:15 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Keith Engelke Law Office of S. Keith Engelke

The simplest answer is for her to wait until she is 18. However I doubt that you would be posting if that was the plan.

Before she is 18, her parents are responsible for her and have the right to keep her home.

Also the person she is living with could be charged with the offense of harboring a runaway.

If she wants to leave before she is 18, the best option is for her parents to agree to let her spend the summer with her friend. Otherwise, she takes the chance that her parents will force her to go back.

Perhaps she can be a counselor at a summer camp.

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Answered on 5/14/12, 6:47 am


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