At what age can a child be left alone overnight?

What is the name of your state?
NJ
I want to know at what age a child (my grandson) can stay at home alone overnight, while his mother is away. He prefers being home, near his computer and sleeping in his room. He is self sufficient and gets oiff to school, and his after-school job. He does his homework and goes to bed. But legally we want to be sure we can do this while his mother is away for 3 days. I live in the same town in NJ, so I would be preparing his dinner for him, etc.

And how old is he?

He is 15, will be 16 in April. Very mature and independent. He would be driven to school by his grandfather in the morning, and driven home after work by his grandfather or me.

Hell, at 15 I was already kicked out of the house and working, going to school, cooking my own meals AND doing my own laundry.

He should be cooking for you. Unless there are other circumstances you have not mentioned (and it does happen here) there is nothing in the law that I can find that would preclude him from hanging out without mom for a short time.

But you'd better check on him from time to time. At 15 he just might have some 'study help' if you remember how it was

Not sure about NJ, but in Indiana there is no set age as to when a child can be left alone. There are suggested ages, but nothing in writing.

[HomeGuru]

This is a post about leaving a minor alone for 3 days people.

Quite aware of that. Unfortunately, in the last 18 hours I have scoured the New Jersey statutes and nowhere does it specifically detail a 'minimum' age that a child must be to be left alone for a short period of time.

I am only thankful that the grandparents are taking an active role in this situation. And that the minor in question is not 6 or 8 and left in a motel while mommy is humping in the next room.

This is one of those areas where the law is silent. And based on that, I will be to from this point on.

[stealth2]

I asked two of my neighbors - a town cop and a Jersey state cop (I realize, cops aren't always that well versed in the law) - and they both told me that it's one of those grey areas. If there was no problem, it would probably be fine. But if there WAS a problem, then Mom could find herself in trouble for leaving an unsupervised minor, and isn't something they would advise - particularly if it's a divorce situation and Dad may complain.

[HomeGuru]

Originally posted by stealth2
I asked two of my neighbors - a town cop and a Jersey state cop (I realize, cops aren't always that well versed in the law) - and they both told me that it's one of those grey areas. If there was no problem, it would probably be fine. But if there WAS a problem, then Mom could find herself in trouble for leaving an unsupervised minor, and isn't something they would advise - particularly if it's a divorce situation and Dad may complain.

**A: try asking CPS.

Now on that on I will agree with HG.

[stealth2]

Originally posted by HomeGuru
**A: try asking CPS.

LOL Not me!

[HomeGuru]

Originally posted by stealth2
LOL Not me!

**A: Yeah, I should stated the writer and not directed it at you.

[stealth2]

I knew that. But I sure as heck don't want my name, number or anything else anywhere near DYFS!

Until a child becomes emancipated, his or her parents have a legal obligation to provide for the child's supervision and welfare. The principal ways in which a child becomes emancipated are when he or she turns 18, gets married, or joins the military, whichever occurs first. Leaving a child alone at home really depends on whether the parent believes that particular children have the physical and mental capacity to care for themselves during the absence. The parent's actions will generally be judged on whether the parent acted as a reasonable, prudent parent under the circumstances. There is no set age where a child is deemed self-sufficient, other than through emancipation. This however is not the situation, but it still applies.

I am not one to butt in, but I am wondering if the child can stay with GrandMa?, or Grandma stay there?