Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

Age a child from Texas can choose where to live.

A 16 year old child came back from Texas to live with me in Tennessee, with his parents permission. They gave me written right to give medical treatment to this child. His parents want him to come home after just one week...the child wants to stay and work here and obtain his GED. His living situation in Texas is disgusting, and he does not want to return to Texas. What rights do I have to keep him here with me in Tennessee? He will be 17 in December.


Asked on 5/27/99, 5:17 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jes Beard Jes Beard, Attorney at Law

Re: Age a child from Texas can choose

You essentially only have the rights the parent or parents wish to allow. Tennessee would not even be the proper jurisdiction to decide whether the child should be allowed to stay with you or whether to emancipate the child to let the child make his own decision.

Send the kid back to Texas. Or go back to Texas to litigate the issue where folks who know about the living conditions can testify. Otherwise you look at being criminally charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor -- which faces up to 11 months and 29 days in jail.

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Answered on 6/01/99, 10:01 pm


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