emancipation/underage pregnancy

[ninjamom2]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MD My 15 year old son's 15 year old girlfriend is pregnant (unfortunately). Can someone inform me as to the legal emancipation age in MD if a minor is pregnant. Also, her parents will not take her to the Dr to confirm the pregnancy and are cutting all contact between her and my son. I am not happy about this situation, however, I cannot turn my back on them. Can some pls tell me the ramifications if I were to take her to the Dr to confirm the pregnancy and guide her in the right direction as to services available to her? Her parents are also threatening her with forcing her to have an abortion (which I know is not legal) putting her in a foster home (she will be 16 in 3 mos) and forcing her to give her baby up for adoption. What rights does she have as a pregnant minor in the state of Maryland. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Silverplum]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MD My 15 year old son's 15 year old girlfriend is pregnant (unfortunately). Can someone inform me as to the legal emancipation age in MD if a minor is pregnant. Also, her parents will not take her to the Dr to confirm the pregnancy and are cutting all contact between her and my son. I am not happy about this situation, however, I cannot turn my back on them. Can some pls tell me the ramifications if I were to take her to the Dr to confirm the pregnancy and guide her in the right direction as to services available to her? Her parents are also threatening her with forcing her to have an abortion (which I know is not legal) putting her in a foster home (she will be 16 in 3 mos) and forcing her to give her baby up for adoption. What rights does she have as a pregnant minor in the state of Maryland. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

You have NO rights whatsoever to take the girl anywhere, or to "guide" her in any way. Her parents have every right to (re)gain control over her, and to (re)gain control over whom she speaks and with whom and how she spends her time.

 

[cbg]

There is no state in the US where pregnancy legally emancipates a minor. None. Pregnancy provides medical emancipation, meaning that she, with the help of her doctor, can make her own decisions about her health care and that of her baby. But pregnancy does not provide legal emancipation to a minor regardless of their age, anywhere in the US.

There are only two states that will even consider emancipating a 15 year old under any circumstances; Maryland is not one of the two; in neither of these states would your son's gf qualify for emancipation.

You are a legal stranger to the child and have no rights whatsoever to take her anywhere or give her any guidance. The least her parents could do is have a restraining order filed against you. There are other, stronger measures they could take as well.

Her parents are well within their rights to cut off contact with your son. Until she is 18, they have full say over who she can and cannot have contact with. After the baby is born, your son can apply to have paternity established, which will give him the right to see the baby (and also to pay child support); however, he will have no legal right to see the mother until the earlier of her 18th birthday or the day her parents agree to permit it.

 

[enjay]

I'd probably put in a call to the school guidance counselor. The girl probably needs someone to talk to who isn't pressuring her one way or the other.

 

[ninjamom2]

Thank you so much for your answers....however, some of you dont need to be so judgemental or self righteous I certainly am not trying to gain control of this girl in any way, however, I do no think that her parents tormenting and torturing her and threatening her on a daily, no, not daily, an hourly basis is fair to her either. Does she have any rights as a minor and is it true that in MD if you are 16 and pregnant you can marry? (for people who are being self righteous and judgmental - pls dont reply) I am merely trying to help this child. I certainly understand that I HAVE NO RIGHT OR CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION

 

[ninjamom2]

I also would like to know if they could put her into foster care just because she if pregnant and if so, at age 16, could I have her come live with us? Thanks for your replies and information

 

[Zigner]

I also would like to know if they could put her into foster care just because she if pregnant and if so, at age 16, could I have her come live with us? Thanks for your replies and information

You have GOT to be joking. How do you think the child would be "safe" with you? YOUR SON KNOCKED HER UP!!! Nobody in their right mind would allows this child to come and LIVE with the boy!

Yes, they can send the child to a placement and it's absolutely, posi-damn-tively NONE of your business!

 

[Silverplum]

Thank you so much for your answers....however, some of you dont need to be so judgemental or self righteous I certainly am not trying to gain control of this girl in any way, however, I do no think that her parents tormenting and torturing her and threatening her on a daily, no, not daily, an hourly basis is fair to her either. Does she have any rights as a minor and is it true that in MD if you are 16 and pregnant you can marry? (for people who are being self righteous and judgmental - pls dont reply) I am merely trying to help this child. I certainly understand that I HAVE NO RIGHT OR CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION

Sure. They are TORMENTING and TORTURING her.



And you're a grownup. Uh-huh.

 

[ninjamom2]

Thank you all so much for your mature and helpful answers to my questions. Yes, my son did in fact "knock her up" as you so eloquently and maturely put it. However, I don't think it takes only 1 to get pregnant if my memory serves me correctly and i don't think he is being accused of raping her. They are 2 kids who made a mistake (and thank GOD that you are so perfect and live perfect lives whereas unfortunately for the rest of us we have to live in a not so perfect world). Anyway, if anyone knows about the marriage law in MD and the answer to my question regarding foster care and would like to give an intelligent and mature answer thank you very much and for the other maybe I ll invite you to a shotgun wedding so this 15 year old isn't thrown to the wolves. And by placement, where exactly would that be and what kind of facility would it be? Thanks again

 

[cbg]

There is no state where she can marry below the age of 18 without parental consent, judicial consent, or both. Pregnant or not.

Foster care is not outside the realm of possibility. And from everything you have posted, it might be the best thing for the poor kid. Between her parents trying to run her life one way and you trying to run it another way, foster care may be the only way the poor child can get any peace.

 

[ninjamom2]

Oh and by the way - just wanted to let you know- the knocking up didn't happen at my house. It happened at hers and yes threatening to force someone to have an abortion or making them give their baby up is tormenting them. Maybe they could take her to a back alley abortion clinic or do it themselves at home!

 

[Silverplum]

Thank you all so much for your mature and helpful answers to my questions. Yes, my son did in fact "knock her up" as you so eloquently and maturely put it. However, I don't think it takes only 1 to get pregnant if my memory serves me correctly and i don't think he is being accused of raping her. They are 2 kids who made a mistake (and thank GOD that you are so perfect and live perfect lives whereas unfortunately for the rest of us we have to live in a not so perfect world). Anyway, if anyone knows about the marriage law in MD and the answer to my question regarding foster care and would like to give an intelligent and mature answer thank you very much and for the other maybe I ll invite you to a shotgun wedding so this 15 year old isn't thrown to the wolves. And by placement, where exactly would that be and what kind of facility would it be? Thanks again

Nunya.
MYOB.

 

[ninjamom2]

Thanks for the information regarding the marriage law..however I did see on a website that in Maryland a 16 year old female can marry without parental consent if she does in fact have proof that she is pregnant. I would also like to let you know that I have tried to give these 2 options (abortion or adoption) but she is adamant that she will do neither. I am not trying to run her life, I am just trying not to turn my back on them or make them feel as though they have no one to turn to. I am not in the least happy about this situation or excited to be a grandmother to a 15 year old's baby.

 

[Silverplum]

Thanks for the information regarding the marriage law..however I did see on a website that in Maryland a 16 year old female can marry without parental consent if she does in fact have proof that she is pregnant. I would also like to let you know that I have tried to give these 2 options (abortion or adoption) but she is adamant that she will do neither. I am not trying to run her life, I am just trying not to turn my back on them or make them feel as though they have no one to turn to. I am not in the least happy about this situation or excited to be a grandmother to a 15 year old's baby.

You're quite the intrepid intruder, aren'tcha?

If the pg teen was my daughter, I'd be filing a restraining order against you and your son ASAP. You have no boundaries.

 

[Proserpina]

Thank you so much for your answers....however, some of you dont need to be so judgemental or self righteous I certainly am not trying to gain control of this girl in any way, however, I do no think that her parents tormenting and torturing her and threatening her on a daily, no, not daily, an hourly basis is fair to her either. Does she have any rights as a minor and is it true that in MD if you are 16 and pregnant you can marry? (for people who are being self righteous and judgmental - pls dont reply) I am merely trying to help this child. I certainly understand that I HAVE NO RIGHT OR CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION

I just have one question.

Are you living with her 24/7?

If you're not, how do you know that she's being "tormented and tortured" on an hourly basis?

(sorry, that was two questions)

Unfortunately (because I DO feel it's unfortunate), you are correct about one part. Maryland does allow waiving the parental consent requirement for under 18s if the teen has a child or has proof of pregnancy.

However, this does NOT mean that a particular jurisdiction must agree - just that they may allow this.