Legal Question in Family Law in Texas
in texas, when can a teenager choose to leave their guardian
My daughter's best friend was adopted by her uncle when she
was younger, but her uncle does not treat her well at all. We
have offered her our home to live with us, but the uncle refuses
to let her go, even though he currently neglects her. At what
age is my daughter's friend able to legally move out? She is
under the age of 16.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: in texas, when can a teenager choose to leave their guardian
Since the uncle adopted her, he is her father, not her guardian. She is a minor child until she is 18 years old. If there are no court orders restricting her residence, if she runs away at 17 years old, she will not be prosecuted. She is still a minor, just not a runaway. I do not know what you mean by neglect, but if you consider her life, well-being, health to be endangered, you should contact CPS. CPS is a can of worms that, in my opinion, should not be opened lightly.
Re: in texas, when can a teenager choose to leave their guardian
As Theresa said, this is her dad.
I assume that you are only hearing one side of the story. Teen-age girls usually exaggerate what is going on. How would you feel if your daughter went to another family and said that you were a terrible parent?
FYI: If the school or any doctor sees neglect, etc. they are REQUIRED by law to report it to CPS. Since CPS is not involved, I would be careful getting involved.
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