Legal?

[cles10]

We live in missouri. I'm 17 and he's 20 is it legal for us to be in a relationship?

 

[HighwayMan]

Well that depends on what type of relationship. Why don't you come right out and say what you really mean?

 

[quincy]

We live in missouri. I'm 17 and he's 20 is it legal for us to be in a relationship?

In Missouri, you at age 17 and your 20 year old friend can be in a relationship. For a sexual relationship, it is legal for anyone over the age of 14 to consent to sexual intercourse unless the partner is over 21. If the partner is over 21, then the age of consent is 17.

Following are links to the laws in Missouri currently, and the laws as they soon will be:

http://sexetc.org/states/missouri

http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/chapters/chapText566.html

 

[stealth2]

Of course, since you are still a nimor, your parent/guardian can forbid it and you will have to wait - unless loverboy wants to risk some legal issues.

 

[cles10]

What if my guardians don't consent to it? I'm not so sure how one of them will take it

 

[stealth2]

What if my guardians don't consent to it? I'm not so sure how one of them will take it

Your boy could find himself slapped with a restraining/no contact order. And woe to him if he breaks it.

 

[cbg]

If your guardians do not agree, then you cannot have a "relationship" with him. It really is that simple.

 

[stealth2]

I personally think that if a person must ask "is it legal to...." - it's probably not a good idea.

 

[quincy]

What if my guardians don't consent to it? I'm not so sure how one of them will take it

How your guardians won't take what? A dating relationship with the 20-year-old? Or do you intend to tell your guardians that you and your friend will be having sex?

A three year age difference is not that great a difference, and many who are age 17 have already left the home and headed off to college, where they are largely left to their own devices. A relationship between two young people is not in itself harmful (and, if proper precautions are taken, even a sexual relationship is not in itself harmful).

If you think or know that one or both of your guardians are not too fond of the 20-year-old or of thoughts of you being in a relationship with this person, however, you might want to explore the reason why this might be the case.

 

[cles10]

It's not that they won't approve I believe they would like the guy if they got to know him I just don't know if my grandpa will even give it a chance they are fairly strict

 

[cbg]

You are a minor. They have full control of who you are allowed to associate with. If they say no, it's no. There is no law you can invoke that will force them to allow it.

 

[quincy]

It's not that they won't approve I believe they would like the guy if they got to know him I just don't know if my grandpa will even give it a chance they are fairly strict

Why don't they know him?

Hasn't he been to your house to pick you up for a date? Haven't you introduced him to your grandparents?

Strict or not, your grandparents should at least be given the opportunity to meet and get to know anyone you have an interest in. While it is true that they may not like the guy and they could even forbid you from seeing him, their reasons for not liking him could be valid and worth your hearing. It is also possible that whatever it is that has charmed you about him will charm them, too.

I personally don't like the idea of you seeing him without your grandparents knowing, though. That I believe can be a big (and potentially dangerous) mistake.

Good luck with whatever it is you decide to do.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Do you really want to be with someone who has a criminal record due to you? Do you think they will want to be with you, when they find that no one will hire them because of their record?

 

[quincy]

Do you really want to be with someone who has a criminal record due to you? Do you think they will want to be with you, when they find that no one will hire them because of their record?

What criminal record? What crime?

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

What criminal record? What crime?

The potential ones that could be charged and the 21 year old convicted of by the guardians.