Can parents keep me form attending collage at 17?

[amfranmarie]

I am 17, i graduated high school spring of 2010, in Texas at 16. I lived with my mothers parents for my senior year. I was then was forced to move back in with my mother and her husband, to South Carolina.

My step dad and i dont get along, not to be childish i just have som issues with him and his past. he has a federal prison record, he is also bi-polar to a large degree, and has threatened me several times. I do not feel comfortable around him what so ever. Also, he has put my mother in some scary situations in the past and currently keeping her, and me, from other relitives. Currently we can not give out our address, or give any indication to where we live, etc. I belive, but can not prove it has to do with insurance fraud and/or running from the irs, again i can not prove anything. Although, he has done similar thing in the past. Another issue i have is concern for my legal integrity. HE has violated his paroll manny times in the past and i have concern for if he gets caught could i get in trouble for knowing and not saying anything. My reason for not doing so would be my fear of the actions he would take if he found out.

My next thing is the fact that I am not allowed to go to collage, even comuinty collage. i HAve a grant for graduating early from the state of texas. However, i do not know if it can transfer out of state.

My mom and step dad have 3 other kids together, 8yrs, 4yrs, and 2yrs. The 8 year old is not registered in school either. I love my mom but she isnt the best either, she lover her kids, but like i stated before my step dad makes sure everything goes his way. My mom has also had a little bit of a drinking problem, i thought she had gotten better about it until i came home from taking the 8yr old to get ice cream and she was passed out on the floor.


My dad lives in the Dallas metroplex area, and can not support himself, much less me financially. so moving in with him is ruled out.

I moved from Austin to SC and I had recently talked to a few friends and basically they offered to help me get a job then apartment, etc. I do have a job here in South Carolina, and the plan was for me to save up money for a year an move back when i turn 18. After recent events i deiced to see if there was any other way.

I want to be an accountant when i grow up. My parents never finished school and thats really my goal. I want to do something with my life. My mom and dad have both showed me what NOT to do with my life. I feel as if they are dragging me down the same path tho, can any one help me?

So, basically my questions are with my situation:
-What can i do if i feel threatened by my step dad?
-Can i be kept from attending collage?
-Can my grant, for collage transfer?
And if all elise fails,
-What are my chances of getting emancipated?
-What court system would i need to go though Texas or South Carolina?

 

[justalayman]

without reading all the associated writing, just an answer to the initial question:

yes. Until you are an adult, you are under the control of your parent(s).

 

[Isis1]

Technically, yes they can keep you from enrolling into college until you are 18.

How much longer until you are 18?

 

[AlmostALawyer]

How much longer until you are 18?

2 years longer, he's 16. You all should read the fact pattern. It is very sad, and I wish I knew more to be able to help you. I would advise that you save your money and stay out of trouble until 18 and then begin your life. Good luck with your aspirations.

In regards to getting in trouble because your step father may be evading laws/law enforcement, you don't know anything and that's a good thing. Just don't aid or encourage your parents in any crimes.

 

[justalayman]

2 years longer, he's 16. You all should read the fact pattern. It is very sad, and I wish I knew more to be able to help you. I would advise that you save your money and stay out of trouble until 18 and then begin your life. Good luck with your aspirations.

In regards to getting in trouble because your step father may be evading laws/law enforcement, you don't know anything and that's a good thing. Just don't aid or encourage your parents in any crimes.

I guess you missed the first 3 words of the post:

I am 17

 

[Isis1]

I guess you missed the first 3 words of the post:

Phew, for a second i thought all my years of math was totally wasted!!

 

[AlmostALawyer]

I guess you missed the first 3 words of the post:

Yeah, sorry....

 

[amfranmarie]

yes i am 17, but just by a few days.

since they can keep me form enrolling, etc. what are my chances of being emancipated? i have read a little up on it, but nothing on how it effects school. is there a chance that a judge would grant me emancipation to attend school, with me keeping grades up, check in with grade reports, etc.

I do have a job here in South Carolina, but i have a Grant in texas, that from my understanding it doesn't transfer out of state well. especially to community collage, and me paying for collage myself is all i can afford right now.

My goal when i turned 18 was to move back to austin, i know several managers at misc places that have offered to give me a job, and know that i know how to work, when i come back, and i have good friends real-estate.

If there is any chance of emancipation, witch court system should i go through, SOuth Carolina, or Texas?

 

[TigerD]

Don't worry about your parents preventing you from attending college. Go back to high school and work on your grammar and writing.

DC

 

[InsaneJane]

I'm not sure about how Texas handles emancipations. You should be able to find everything on the net.
I will give an example how a many states are now handling the issue.
I will let you now how it worked out in Maine for a friends neice.
She was your age, 17, parents divorced, one parenent was abusive and caused serious problems in court and got the child kicked out of HS twice. That parent isn't allowed on school property in GA any more.
Anyway the girl moved up to Maine and stayed with relitives. Prior to that, the 17 year old filed a court petition for emancipated with the Maine court. The Maine court required that the girl had to write a statement explaining why she needed to be emancipated. She backed it up with court and school records. She then was allowed to meet with a Judge that issued her a court date for emancipation for the day before her 18th birthday, placing her in a probation period. The Judge issued a court order allowing her to reside in Maine, allowing her to attend school in Maine and also a couple of other things that she had to have completed by certain dates.... The Judge also ordered a restrainning order against the abusive parrent and barred that parent from being able to have any contact with the childs school district.

After being informed of the Maine court date, the abusive parent filed contempt charges against the non abusive ex that had sole custody of the 17 year old (only child) for not returnning the child to GA.
The Ga juvinile court was postponed until right after the Maine court date and the non abusive parent showed up with the Maine judges court orders,
and that case was dismissed w/ prejudice (so it couldn't be brought up in another Ga court again0.

Now this took place a couple of years ago and the girl never recieved emancipation, but was afforded the necessary benifits of it while still being covered by the parents health insurance and having the ability to cancel the emancipation process at any time before her 18th birthday. I think the final court date was canceled....

So, realize that it can be done but don't be surprised by the way it might happen. States don't want to hand out emancipation freely every time a teenager has a tif with a parent.
I believe you have a valid case for leaving home to seek an education. Start doing your homework now and be prepared to stand up for your rights.

Do a google search for emancipation Texas.

Good luck

 

[amfranmarie]

I may not be the best with grammar or spelling, but it did get me through high school. Also, i don't think I can go back, after graduating, you know walking across the stage getting my diploma. I have dyslexia as well, even though i struggle i work extra hard on my papers and get them turned in and get a good grade. Again, i want to be an accountant. In case you didn't know there are very little grammar in that and even less spelling, the few things i would have to spell i would have to spell multiple times and there are short cuts like copy/paste in excel for that. I am a whiz at math and excel. So you see how that is a good career choice.

 

[stealth2]

Seriously? If you want to go to college? You should at least be able to spell it. You WILL have to write an essay as part of your application. How you express yourself matters. I'm sorry, but debtcollector is right.

 

[AlmostALawyer]

It is amazing how the kid came here wanting some legal questions answered and instead was judged and ridiculed. He's 17 years old. I know people 50 years old who graduated from college and write incorrectly/poorly. They have gone on to become very successful. Some of you people need to lighten up.

OP, more power to you for pursuing something meaningful, like a degree in accounting. I appreciate that I won't have to support you with my tax dollars because you have a work ethic and are motivated to accomplish something in your life. Good Luck!

 

[stealth2]

It is amazing how the kid came here wanting some legal questions answered and instead was judged and ridiculed. He's 17 years old. I know people 50 years old who graduated from college and write incorrectly/poorly. They have gone on to become very successful. Some of you people need to lighten up.

OP, more power to you for pursuing something meaningful, like a degree in accounting. I appreciate that I won't have to support you with my tax dollars because you have a work ethic and are motivated to accomplish something in your life. Good Luck!

How do we know it's a He?

Sure - people become successful having cruddy language skills. Does that mean we should encourage it? Or should we encourage kids to actually learn to communicate well and clearly? The majority will NOT be in a position to hire someone to communicate for them. This poster has some time to polish his/her skills. Why not do so?

 

[AlmostALawyer]

How do we know it's a He?

This is my point. This is not relevant to anything, and could have easily been overlooked. However, you and many others, enjoy pointing out insignificant details to prove what? Your brilliance? Congratulations.

Sure - people become successful having cruddy language skills. Does that mean we should encourage it? Or should we encourage kids to actually learn to communicate well and clearly?

I don't see anything in this thread towards the OP that could be taken as encouragement to communicate well. I would describe it more as discouraging, sarcastic remarks about his current abilities.

Stealth, from what I have observed, you give good legal advice. However, maybe you should think about being slightly more understanding (not towards me, I would never expect such a thing). So many people on these boards seem to jump at the chance to prove a poster that they are wrong in some capacity. After a while, it does not make anyone seem smart. It just makes the person look like a jerk. It also discourages people from posting, which is contrary to the purpose of this forum?