15 engaged to a 19 year old. legal?

[Shay-Pari'e]

[url]http://www.xanga.com/butirfli[/url]

It is unfortunate that you feel you do not need help.

[rmet4nzkx]

Beth please call the number, you don't know if they can or can't help you if you don't call. They are there to help not hurt you, also you are not the only person who is your age and can't be with their parents for some reson, there is help. Also there will be social security benefits after your mother's death so even if she can't take care of you now because of her illness, you will have some income until you turn 18, then you can return to school. I'm glad you came back two times yesterday and glad you haven't cut yourself in a while, that is good progress, but there is help for you and even help for your mother too. Does she live in Orlando also or some where else? Please call the number and keep us updated.

[butirfli]

she lives in tennessee. and i couldn't call that number. if anyone found out that i was living with seth it would be bad. so i'm just going to wait these next few months. but thanks for your help.

[rmet4nzkx]

Originally Posted by butirfli

she lives in tennessee. and i couldn't call that number. if anyone found out that i was living with seth it would be bad. so i'm just going to wait these next few months. but thanks for your help.

Don't go away I found out that in Florida you could be married at 15 with a court order with or without your mother's permission, you can get married at 16 with your mother's permission, perhaps given that your mother is dying the court would issue the order for you, I'll get the reference

[rmet4nzkx]

Please call the number they can help you so that Seth won't get into trouble and you can start living without being in hiding, please???
Marriage Laws » United States » Florida
Florida
* If an individual is under 18 years of age, but older than 16 years of age, a marriage license can be obtained with parental consent.
* If a parent has sole custody or the other parent is dead, the permission of one parent is sufficient.
* If a person is under the age of 16, the marriage license has to be issued by a county judge, with or without parental permission.
* If a minor's parents are both deceased and there is not an appointed guardian, he/she may apply for a marriage license. A minor who has been previously married may also apply for a license.
* A minor who swears that they have a child or are expecting a baby, can apply for a license if the pregnancy has been verfied by a written statement from a licensed physician. A county court judge may at his/her discretion issue or not issue a license for them to marry.
* Pre-Marital Course Providers will be charged a one time fee of $4.00

Congratulations on your engagement! Here's what you need to know to make the marriage legal in Florida.

In order to get married, you need to apply and receive a marriage license. This is the document in your state that allows you to officially tie the knot under the law. The rules for acquiring your marriage license varies from state to state, so you should check with your city's marriage bureau at your clerk of court's office to find out what your local rules are.

You'll typically need to apply for your marriage license at least one month before your wedding ceremony. You'll traditionally need to send in your birth certificates, tax information, and other official documents. You don't, however, want to apply for your marriage license too early. In some states, the licenses do expire, if you don't get married within a few months.

When you apply for your license, you'll not only need a proof of identification and age, will need to provide any information about previous marriages, and will need to pay a nominal fee. You will also need to have a witness when you sign the application, so plan on bringing your maid of honor or best man with you. The bride will need to know what her married name will be before she signs the marriage certificate. You'll have to write that name on the application.

And, believe it or not, just because you have your marriage license sent to you in the mail does not mean you are officially married. You need to have a justice of the peace or a religious clergyman sign the document. On your wedding day, you'll give your chaplain your marriage license, then after the ceremony, he'll sign it and send it to the proper government agency for validation.

ID Requirement: Picture ID such as a driver's license and your Social Security card or a valid passport number or I-94 card.

Residency Requirement: Do not have to be a resident of Florida. The waiting period does not apply to non-Florida residents.

Application Requirement: Both the bride and groom must appear in person at the time of applying.

Waiting Period: No waiting period for Florida residents who have both completed a state sanctioned marriage preparation course within the last 12 months. There is a three-day waiting period for Florida residents who have not taken the course.

If Divorced: If previously married, the date of divorce or date of spouse's death must be supplied. If the divorce or spouse's death occurred within the past 30 days, a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate is required.

Fees: $88.50 - cash only. Couples who have completed a state-sanctioned marriage preparation course within the past 12 months are entitled to a discount of $32.50.

The Florida Premarital Preparation, is a course provided by a qualified instructor registered with the Clerk of the Circuit Court consisting of not less than 4 hours. The course may include instruction regarding conflict management, communication skills, financial responsibilities, children and parenting responsibilities on actual case data compiled from information reported by married couples who seek counseling. The course may be provided by personal instruction, videotape instruction, instructions via other electronic medium or a combination of these methods. A roster is available in any Clerk's Office issuing marriage licenses.

Other Tests: No blood test requirement.

Under 18: If an individual is under 18 years of age, but older than 16 years of age, a marriage license can be obtained with parental consent. If a parent has sole custody or the other parent is dead, the permission of one parent is sufficient. If a person is under the age of 16, the marriage license has to be issued by a county judge, with or without parental permission. If a minor's parents are both deceased and there is not an appointed guardian, he/she may apply for a marriage license. A minor who has been previously married may also apply for a license. A minor who swears that they have a child or are expecting a baby, can apply for a license if the pregnancy has been verfied by a written statement from a licensed physician. A county court judge may at his/her discretion issue or not issue a license for them to marry.

Proxy Marriages: Not allowed in Florida.

Officiants: All regularly ordained ministers of the gospel in communion with some church may perform marriages. Ministers must complete a certificate of marriage on the marriage license and return it to the office from which it was issued.

Valid: License is valid for 60 days.
The license can only be used within the State of Florida.

[BlondeIntel]

Originally Posted by butirfli

she lives in tennessee. and i couldn't call that number. if anyone found out that i was living with seth it would be bad. so i'm just going to wait these next few months. but thanks for your help.

You can call this number from a pay phone. 1-800-448-3000

You don't have to tell them your address.

You can talk to them about anything.

It is for Father Flanagan's Girls and Boys Town.

They have a Central Florida location if you need it later.

[url=http://www.girlsandboystown.org/aboutus/locations/centralflorida/RenovatedFacility.asp]Central Florida Girls and Boys Town[/url]

[AHA]

I still don't get why everyone is bending over backwards to find a way for these children to get married. It obvious there are more serious issues Bethani needs help in solving, marriage isn't the answer.

If that 1-800 number is for some sort of emotional help line, than that would be a great one for you to call, Bethani. It won't do any harm and might be the best thing that ever happened to you. Take a chance and call, see what they can do for you, so that you can live happily and not hurt yourself. You deserve better than that. I hope everything works out for you, but I still can't help wishing you weren't in such a rush to marry, but it's your choice and your life.
Just my 2 cents on the matter.

All the best, good luck sweetie

[stealth2]

I've got to agree, AHA.

[Gracie3787]

Butrifli.
I am becoming confused, on one hand you say that your mother has only 4 months to live, knows where you are and has been pushing for you to get married for the last 2 years, and on the other hand you say that you are in Fla. your Mom is in Tenn. Your Mom won't let you live with her, and your grandparents won't speak to you.
You post on a site asking for information. we are all concerned for you and have given you some ways to make your situation better, and you so thanks, but no thanks, coming up with all kinds of excuses to not make the move to get help.
It is pretty obvious from your posts and journal that because of your behavior/illness you have alienated everyone from your life. But if you get help, all those close to you will learn that you were ill, and will begin to welcome you back into your lives.
Several things also lead me to believe that my original suspicion was correct, and you are a run away. I know you believe that I don't know what I,m talking about, but I do know: Between age 13 and 16 (when I got married) I ran away from home 15 times, so I know all the excuses and signs. Because of undiagnosed manic depression I too alienated alot of loved ones (until I got help) so I know how wonderful and liberating help can be. I know that your Fiance could get into alot of trouble (the boy I spoke of in my first post is my son) but you do not have to tell anyone about you two living together.
Please call those numbers, if not for yourself, then do it for Seth and your Mom during her last few months of life.
If you are able to imagine a happy life without hiding, cutting, feeling low. etc. then you and only you can really make it happen.
Gracie

[stealth2]

Originally Posted by Gracie3787

on one hand you say that your mother has only 4 months to live, knows where you are and has been pushing for you to get married for the last 2 years, and on the other hand you say that you are in Fla. your Mom is in Tenn. Your Mom won't let you live with her, and your grandparents won't speak to you.

She also says that her Mom has said that "things will change" when she goes back to live with Mom. Really, who knows how much of it is true, if any.

[butirfli]

for the last time, i am not a runaway. i talk to my mom all the time. she knows where i am. i'll call the number, but i don't see how it will do anything. bah.

[rmet4nzkx]

Originally Posted by butirfli

for the last time, i am not a runaway. i talk to my mom all the time. she knows where i am. i'll call the number, but i don't see how it will do anything. bah.

Beth, I'm so glad you came back and decided to call, they can help you and if you and your mother are in touch, they can help you both get help and Seth won't have to get into trouble. Please let us know how you are doing.

[AHA]

I'm sorry that you don't feel that what we have to advise will make one bit of difference in your life, but since you posted on a public messageboard for ....advice, that's what you have to expect to receive. I guess no one here can help you, if you don't want to try and help yourself. Don't just dismiss people on here by saying" I don't see how it will do anything, bah", we have expressed a genuine concern for you without even knowing you! How often do you or anyone in this world get that? I can tell you, not very often. Most people focus on themselves, so to get this many replies from strangers trying to come up with suggestions to make your life a little easier, makes you very very fortunate in that sense. If you don't want advice and caring from people, just say so and you won't get any, but don't patrionize us for trying to help you. You have to find a way to be more positive about life, you've knocked getting help from that 1-800 number before you've even dialled it! If you're not open for doing something to better your life and feeling better about yourself and everything else, then you'll never improve your situation. You have to embrace the chances you get. Negative attitude=negative life. You want to be happy, don't you?
I'm not going to post anymore to you after this, because I can tell I'm wasting my time writing to a wall. I wish you all the best and that you find happiness somehow. Take care