Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

A 17 1/2 year old young man, good student, not into drugs or Alcohol...doesn't want to live with his dad anymore who is in the process of getting sex change. The young man feels uncomfortable with that situation and feels angry whenever he has to be around his dad. The young man has been staying with us, sometimes with his dad's permission and sometimes without.

Now the dad wants to write up a contract (not a legal one) stating that the young man can board with us during the week to attend school in our district and that he would pay us $100 per month for boarding (we do not care about the money we just want to provide this young man whom we've known for 4 years a safe and stable home). He's also included other things in this agreement like us acknowledging him as the "parent" and that we take full liability for granting privilages while staying with us (another words, he doesn't want to be responsible if anything happens to ours or anyone elses property etc. while he's in our care). My question is should we sign this agreement? What should we do?


Asked on 4/23/10, 11:18 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Gary Preble Preble Law Firm, P.S.

Sounds like a fair agreement all around. Actually, since the boy would not be living with his father, father is not liable for the boy's intentional acts under RCW 4.24.190. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=4.24.190.

The only things I would add is (1) that the boy sign it also, and (2) that, unless the father will be involved in his health care and education decisions, the father grant you a limited power of attorney for those purposes.

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Answered on 4/28/10, 11:53 am


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