What can happen to me if my daughter who is a minor left home because she can not follow the rules?
Full Question:
I have a minor child(17) that refuses to live in my home. She will not allow me to do my job as a parent by following the rules of my home. I have lost control of her. I will not compromise with the simple rules of the home. She cannot live with these rules so she packed up and left. She is not missing, she is not homeless, I did not kick her out, and she is welcome back at anytime as long as she lives by those rules. What is her legal classification in Maine? Is she a runaway? Homeless? Am I, as a parent, obligated to inform anyone? Where I have lost control of her am I responsible for her actions? If so, Is there anything I can do to protect myself from her poor actions?
09/23/2007 |
Category: Minors |
State: Maine |
#8949
Answer:
I'm unable to say how a court would classify her. If the child is emancipated, you will not be held responsible for her acts.
The following is a ME statute, which doesn't contain a definition of a runaway:
1. Interim care. A juvenile may be taken into interim care by a law enforcement officer without order by the court when the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that:
A. The juvenile is abandoned, lost or seriously endangered in his surroundings and that immediate removal is necessary for his protection; or [1977, c. 520, §1 (new).]
B. The juvenile has left the care of his parents, guardian or legal custodian without the consent of such person. [1977, c. 520, §1 (new).]
[1977, c. 520, §1 (new).]
2. Limit. Under no circumstances shall any juvenile taken into interim care be held involuntarily for more than 6 hours.[1977, c. 520, §1 (new).]
3. Interim care, police record. The taking of a juvenile into interim care pursuant to this section is not an arrest and shall not be designated in any police records as an arrest.[1977, c. 520, §1 (new).]
4. Notification of parents, guardian or custodian. When a juvenile is taken into interim care, the law enforcement officer or the Department of Health and Human Services shall, as soon as possible, notify the juvenile's parent, guardian or legal custodian of the juvenile's whereabouts. If a parent, guardian or legal custodian cannot be located, such notification shall be made to a person with whom the juvenile is residing.[1981, c. 619, §5 (amd); 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (rev).]
5. Interim care, placement.
A. When a law enforcement officer takes a juvenile into interim care, the officer shall contact the Department of Health and Human Services which shall designate a place where the juvenile will be held. [1981, c. 619, §6 (amd); 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (rev).]
>B. The law enforcement officer shall take the juvenile to the Department of Health and Human Services or to the location specified by the department without unnecessary delay. [1981, c. 619, §7 (amd); 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (rev).]