Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

I was born in India but moved to the USA when I was 4 and I am now a legal citizen of the USA. My parents have always been physically violent and very abusive towards me. They were never there for me emotionally and in the last few years, the relationship I've had with them has been deteriorating. We get into fights every other day and physical abuse was almost always involved up till a couple of months ago (the only reason they stopped hitting me was because it ended up hurting them more than it hurt me). Today I just got into the biggest fight I've ever had with them and now they're discussing sending me back to India. My dad told me that I can leave the house if I wanted to. My friends and their parents know of the situation and they're willing to help and all of them are willing to let me live with them as long as I need to. I'm 15 right now and I turn 16 in less than 3 months. Could I legally go live at my friends house?


Asked on 8/30/15, 11:26 am

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

The problem you have is that your parents can require your friend's parents to send you back. Also if you don't go to school, your friend's parents could be charged with a misdemeanor. Your friend's parents need something in writing from your father or mother that gives them permission to take care of you. The age of majority is 18 in Texas, not 16. Another option for you is to go to court and have you legally emancipated.

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Answered on 8/30/15, 12:44 pm


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