[A. Wells]

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Washington

Okay, so I have a few issues regarding my situation. I'm 17 years old and feel like some stuff is going over my head....

Basically, in early June my mother and I got into a physical altercation - no police were involved, but she gave me the option of leaving our home. The next day, I left.

After leaving, I stayed with friends for a few days, but my aunt tracked me down (no cellphone) and offered to let me stay with her. I accepted, however upon leaving my mother's house she said I could not stay with any of my family members.

Anyways after a few weeks, my aunt and I decided to let the cat out of the bag and told my mom I was staying with her. She didn't do anything at this point, but she expressed her discomptent verbally, along with false threats.

I got a job, and am now going to school. My grandmother, aunt, and biological father have all been helping me along. This pisses my mom off to no extent, but being the passive aggressive she is, she's caused a bit of trouble.

1) I want to know if she can force me to come home. I support myself well enough, am doing well in school (always have been an honor's student), and my aunt is fine with me being around. Because I'm somewhat close to my 18th birthday and she has yet to take action, can she jump in and take me 'home'?

It'd mess with my Senior year and my job, as she lives about 1 hour away from my current location.

Also, can my father (lives in Hawaii) or grandmother(Hawaii too >.<) intervene? I'm not exactly sure who has custody over me, but my grandma claims me as her dependent.

2) My mom said she's filed papers with the court in order to get 14 years of childsupport (wtf?) from my dad. I only lived with my mom for 5 maybe 6 years and he paid his support most of the time. Prior I lived with my grandma.

My dad now sends the child support directly to me - donno if that's okay.


I'm not sure if an emancipation is worth it at this point, but any advice is appreciated.

[cyjeff]

Until you are 18, you live where your custodial parent tells you to live.

If your father wants custody, he can take your mother back to court and obtain it.

[A. Wells]

Okay, well............

Can my mom take my dad to court for child support when I was not under her care?

Is it okay for my dad to send me the child support, because I don't live with my mother anymore?

He does not want custody of me, as things are not that extreme.

These are the questions I was more concerned about when posting, emancipation is an option but at this point it doesn't seem worth my time and money for just a few months.

Also, my mother gave me permission to move out, and seems to only want me back because I've been successful, got a car - job - + in school. That seems like good reason behind emancipation if I needed one :/.

[cyjeff]

Can my mom take my dad to court for child support when I was not under her care?

Yes, because you WERE still under her care... just not living with her. She is still responsible for you.

Is it okay for my dad to send me the child support, because I don't live with my mother anymore?

No. The child support is not your money. It is money paid to your mother as per court order. Your mother could take your father back to court for every dollar he has sent you and demand that he repay it to her.

And she would win.

Also, my mother gave me permission to move out, and seems to only want me back because I've been successful, got a car - job - + in school. That seems like good reason behind emancipation if I needed one :/.

Not really.

Your mother can demand you come home at any time because you are not over the age of majority and/or emancipated.

This isn't hard.

You are either legally allowed to decide where you live or not. From your posts, right now you are NOT legally allowed to decide what you wear to school much less where you live and work.