Fifteen-year-old's right to take an internship

hasselhoff · #1 06-11-2006, 07:10 PM

My 15 yo half-sister wants to take a 3-week summer internship she won with a famous photographer who is a senior critic at Yale. Her mother and stepfather don't want to let her, because, they say, she has to work and earn money baby-sitting all summer, not just 3/4 of it. Her room and board during the internship are provided for. My sister is desperate to participate in the internship and has been very organized about arranging it.

Is there any way my sister can go to the internship, or does she have to do what her mom says, no matter what?

aaron · #2 06-12-2006, 09:40 AM

If her father will advocate for her, he may be able to either convince her mother to let her take the internship or may be willing to try to get a court order permitting the internship if they cannot agree. As an unemancipated minor, she can't force her parents to let her attend, nor can she make them pay for the internship, but I really have to scratch my head at parents who would deny their child what sounds like a wonderful opportunity.

hasselhoff · #3 06-12-2006, 01:35 PM

Thanks for your reply. I have to scratch my head too. Her parents despise eachother, and her father likes the internship idea, so I have to suppose that's why her mom does not.

I am not sure dad would be willing to try for a court order. He's fairly resigned.

You mention emancipation. I frankly think that a parent's responsibility involves cooperation with the other parent. These people hated eachother on the day they were married, which they actually admit, and decided to start a family despite that. It is an insufferable situation for my sister; she is a victim of her parents' bizarre choices, but I wonder if she has legal recourse such as emancipation from both of them.

The internship is free btw.

aaron · #4 06-12-2006, 02:04 PM

(I mention emancipation because this was originally posted in the emancipation forum.)

hasselhoff · #5 06-12-2006, 02:07 PM

But do you think she has a case for emancipation. That is, does her parents' irresponsible behavior amount to neglect or abuse?

aaron · #6 06-12-2006, 02:11 PM

The availability of emancipation varies by state, so it depends on where she lives. Most states that permit emancipation would require her to be at least sixteen years old and capable of supporting herself.

hasselhoff · #7 06-12-2006, 02:29 PM

She lives in New York state.

Assuming she could get someone else to support her, does she have to prove that she's been mistreated in some way, or what is a judge's decision based on beside age?