Can you make a 17 year old come home?

[doc2b]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MI

A friend of ours (who is going through a divorce) has a daughter who is 17 and has decided that she wants to live with her 20 yr old boyfriend and his parents. His parents are okay with this, hers are not. She up and left, has been staying there for weeks and won't go home. Her parents have called the police twice, who said they can't make her go home if she doesn't want to...is this true? She's been missing school for a week and I know that mom and dad are ultimately still responsible for her actions ( at least until she comes of age). Anyone have any ideas what they should do and I'll pass it along? Dad's attorney has told him that he should sign emancipation papers like the daughter is requesting...I can't see signing off on your kid as an acceptable solution to this, but I don't know how all that works, either.

Thanks.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by doc2b

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MI

A friend of ours (who is going through a divorce) has a daughter who is 17 and has decided that she wants to live with her 20 yr old boyfriend and his parents. His parents are okay with this, hers are not. She up and left, has been staying there for weeks and won't go home. Her parents have called the police twice, who said they can't make her go home if she doesn't want to...is this true? She's been missing school for a week and I know that mom and dad are ultimately still responsible for her actions ( at least until she comes of age). Anyone have any ideas what they should do and I'll pass it along? Dad's attorney has told him that he should sign emancipation papers like the daughter is requesting...I can't see signing off on your kid as an acceptable solution to this, but I don't know how all that works, either.

Thanks.

Who are you in this scenario?

[Ohiogal]

The minor's parents should file a police complaint against boyfriend's parents and the boyfriend for contributing to the delinquency of the minor AND custodial interference.

[doc2b]

Originally Posted by Zigner

Who are you in this scenario?

Sorry...this is a friend of my husband (they're also coworkers) and myself.

It seems like I've seen so many threads on here where people are told to just go get their kids...and they've tried and are being told they can't because she's 17.

[doc2b]

Originally Posted by Ohiogal

The minor's parents should file a police complaint against boyfriend's parents and the boyfriend for contributing to the delinquency of the minor AND custodial interference.

Thank you OG, I'll pass it along now.

Man, I feel bad for kids and parents alike going through divorce...so much drama (better than the drama in an unhappy household is sometimes, I guess)

[cbg]

Damn straight you can make a 17 year old come home. As another contributor often says, 17 is not 18 lite.

[VeronicaLodge]

so then why arent the police helping?

[doc2b]

Originally Posted by VeronicaLodge

so then why arent the police helping?

They told the parents that they couldn't force the 17 year old to go home...they wouldn't even show up at the boyfriend's residence.

It's really a shame the way the police behave around here...

[Blue Meanie]

Originally Posted by doc2b

They told the parents that they couldn't force the 17 year old to go home...they wouldn't even show up at the boyfriend's residence.

It's really a shame the way the police behave around here...

Got to the Supervisor. If that doesn't do it, go to the media...

[doc2b]

Originally Posted by baystategirl

Got to the Supervisor. If that doesn't do it, go to the media...

That's kind of what I told my husband to pass along (didn't think about the media, though), along with OG's advice of filing a complaint against the bf and his parents. It's a sad situation, though...people in this county are so used to things not going anywhere, they feel like it's a lost cause to keep fighting.