Legal Question in Family Law in Virginia

Can I move in with my friend her family at the age of 15 if I have parental consent in Virginia? I'm I'm 15 and long story short, everyone agrees it's better for my family if I move in with my friend and her family. I have parental consent from both her guardian, and mine. If she lives in a different school district and city, would I be able to switch to her school? Also, would I be able to move in with them without my mom giving up guardianship to me? Even if my friends parents would be the ones to make the house rules and everything and provide food and shelter? I imagine that my mom would be the one to pay for my medicine and prescriptions and such. If not, would a joint guardianship be possible? What would be the terms of that? I don't wish to wait and become emancipated, but while with my friend, I would be working a minimum wage job to help as much as I can (not that a minimum wage job will cover barely anything-but whatever I can do, you know haha). What would I have to do when the time came to get my drivers license? And would my friends parents be able to sign school forms intended for my legal parent/guardian when the time came? Also, if it is important, (I doubt it) she lives with her little brother and mother who separated from her father and her other son. I currently live with my mother, three sisters, one brother, two step-sisters, half sister, and my step-father. My parents didn't get a divorce, my father died when I was an infant so he no longer has guardianship lol. Anything and everything you know would be helpful. Thanks:)


Asked on 1/30/14, 10:44 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Yeah, that's what I say, i.e., "haha" to this absurd proposal.This in fact is one of the worst ideas (in my considered opinion) I've encountered in some time concerning the care and custody of a minor child such as yourself, and should it actually come to pass for perverse reasons not evident at this time, I would hope that the appropriate CPS (Child protective Services) office could be contacted in time to investigate and take the action such as it may deem appropriate for the unacceptable situation that it would likely discover.

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Answered on 2/04/14, 7:37 am


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