rent on a minor

[Dominos760]

im 16 living in California i just graduated high school now i have a full time job. My biggest problem is my guardian is making me pay rent. It is a small amount but i dont feel as if its fair. Shes not the one who decided to make me pay rent anyways but her reason is that she doesnt get welfare anymore to pay my portion of the rent so im forced to. They tell me all the time theyre going to kick me out if i dont. She hasnt been supporting me with adoption money or welfare since the day she adopted me. so i picked up a job to buy myself things i need such as clothes, food, feminine products, etc. So is it legal for her to charge me rent when she hasnt been supporting me at all? With money she has recieved from the government?

 

[Proserpina]

im 16 living in California i just graduated high school now i have a full time job. My biggest problem is my guardian is making me pay rent. It is a small amount but i dont feel as if its fair. Shes not the one who decided to make me pay rent anyways but her reason is that she doesnt get welfare anymore to pay my portion of the rent so im forced to. They tell me all the time theyre going to kick me out if i dont. She hasnt been supporting me with adoption money or welfare since the day she adopted me. so i picked up a job to buy myself things i need such as clothes, food, feminine products, etc. So is it legal for her to charge me rent when she hasnt been supporting me at all? With money she has recieved from the government?

Someone is supporting you. You have a roof over your head, electricity, gas, water ... y'know?

Yes, even in this situation, your mother can charge you rent. But you say yourself that it's only a small amount. What she can't do is kick you out if you don't pay - please remember that, too ... and no matter what she has a legal obligation to provide you with food and the basic necessities. Which leads me to my own question and I'm asking purely because you're living in California. You were adopted by your mother, right? Who is the guardian you're referring to?

 

[drruthless]

im 16 living in California i just graduated high school now i have a full time job. My biggest problem is my guardian is making me pay rent. It is a small amount but i dont feel as if its fair. Shes not the one who decided to make me pay rent anyways but her reason is that she doesnt get welfare anymore to pay my portion of the rent so im forced to. They tell me all the time theyre going to kick me out if i dont. She hasnt been supporting me with adoption money or welfare since the day she adopted me. so i picked up a job to buy myself things i need such as clothes, food, feminine products, etc. So is it legal for her to charge me rent when she hasnt been supporting me at all? With money she has recieved from the government?

she doesnt get welfare anymore to pay my portion of the rent
She hasnt been supporting me with adoption money or welfare since the day she adopted me
Is it legal for her to charge me rent when she hasnt been supporting me at all? With money she has recieved from the government?

well, which is it? First she has money.. then she don't
She is doing the best she can with what little support she gets.
this is Life 101
I hope you're paying attention.
.._____________________
~ When they discover the center of the universe,
a lot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it. ~Bernard Bailey

 

[stealth2]

she has a legal obligation to provide you with food and the basic necessities.

Note, however, she is NOT obligated to provide what you WANT to eat OR name-brand products. She can buy generics.

And.... a LOT of parents require their kids - once they are working - to contribute in one way or another. I did. It wasn't a lot, but I expected them to contribute to the household before their own wants - just like I do. It's actually known as parenting.

 

[Proserpina]

Note, however, she is NOT obligated to provide what you WANT to eat OR name-brand products. She can buy generics.

And.... a LOT of parents require their kids - once they are working - to contribute in one way or another. I did. It wasn't a lot, but I expected them to contribute to the household before their own wants - just like I do. It's actually known as parenting.

I hope to high heaven that's not what I intimated.

The Coogan Act doesn't apply here, obviously, and I can't find anything solid stating a non-performer child's earnings are the child's alone. What I am seeing is that Mama can absolutely charge rent, and living expenses. I also admit to being mildly cautious at the mention of a guardian which might complicate things a bit. Or might not.

PS. Are you telling me that you're not going to buy me Ramen brand when I visit?!

 

[stealth2]

I hope to high heaven that's not what I intimated.

You did not, but you know kids...

PS. Are you telling me that you're not going to buy me Ramen brand when I visit?!

I will not. Because it is poison. Not Top Ramen or any other prepackaged crud.

 

[wavehopper27]

If my 16 yr old HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE started talking to lawyers because I dared ask them to to pay a small amount in rent, I would take every luxury he has and burn them. His room would have NOTHING except a bed and clothes. There would be no TV, computer, cell phone etc. He would be provided NOTHING except the bare essentials for life. If after all this his attitude failed to improve, he would awaken on the morning of his 18th birthday to me escorting him out the door and changing all the locks on the house.