Can I Take My Stepmother To Court

[JustinCassel]

Hi,
i am new here, and i have a issue that needs help.
I am 16 years old and things are going really bad in my house.
My dad and stepmom are fighting and not talking, and as pussnishment to my dad my step mom is taking it on me. She took me Ipod, Hat, And new jacket. I was wondering if i could take her to court or something of that matter.
Just to let you guys know how much of a bad person she is, here is a letter she wrote to her freinds as a holiday letter.

"Happy Holidays 2007

It has been a great year for us, so much joy to share.

Where to start? Justin is doing great, failing 11th grade, ignoring me and being rude & disrespectful, even got in my face a few times, such a joy and so helpful around the house, always doing his chores and being responsible for himself. He even helps, without asking, with yard work and projects for his Dad. He was fired from his first job at Safeway, but luckily he didn’t spend ALL the money my aunt & his grandfather gave his towards car insurance and expenses. So he can pay for the phone bill for a month, until his Dad or aunt or grandparents are ready to pay it for him. He’s done a bit of remodeling on the house too! Let us know if you need any help with punching holes or kicking in doors!

Mike has been closely helping Jusitn with all his school work, they enjoy doing the projects together and helping with the grades. He’s talk to me about all of his life, including Jusitn of course, we’re very close and help eachother, so natuarllly he likes to discuss ideas about Justin with me. Mike is taking Vicadin off & on, life’s so much easier when you pop pills rather than deal with issues! I don’t know why I didn’t think of that!
Mike is always making plans for us to have lovely date nights, very helpful to our relationship."

As you can tell she is being sarcastic through this whole thing.

Please help me, i want my stuff back, but also i want to put her in check.

Thank you.

[aardvarc]

As a minor you have no legal ownership. They can take whatever they want to. About the best YOU can do about the situation is not throw gas onto an already lit fire. Don't let HER bad behavior make YOU act out - it will only come back to haunt you. At 16 you've only got 2 years until you are out from under them - use those two years to get the best education you can so that when the moment comes, you'll be able to get out and support yourself without looking back.

[aaron]

It would be more correct to say that minors have more limited ownership rights than adults, that the line between what property belongs to a minor versus the parents can be blurry, and that parents can discipline minors by taking away their possessions.