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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    United States of America
    Posts
    1

    Default Is 18 Year Old a Legal Adult Even Though He Will Be Starting His Senior Year in High

    My 18 yr old daughter's boyfriend is turning 18 in 2 months. His mother and step-dad have been abusive to him ever since they got together 14-15 years ago. They play the other youngers kids against him. There's alot there and he wouldn't let me call DHS because he didn't want the younger children to go to foster care.

    He wants us to come get him in Utah, where the dad moved them in December (the boy still has his driver's license from another state). His birthday week, is when he wants us to come and take him back with us. He wants to finish highschool here and then will be joining the army.

    His step-dad has been telling him that if he leaves, then he will have to pay for past medical expenses incurred when he was a minor. Step-dad says he won't pay it any longer if the boy leaves. He's also told him that just because he's 18 doesn't mean he's an adult and can leave their home. That if he's still in school then he's still a minor. If he comes here, he will be living in our home, going to the local school and be just like one of the family. Is there any truth to this step-dad's threats?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    California
    Posts
    540

    Default Re: Is 18 Year Old a Legal Adult Even Though He Will Be Starting His Senior Year in H

    Note for future reference: Answers to legal questions often depend a lot on the state. It is very helpful to put that information at the beginning of your question, so people do not have to read everything to find out what state is relevant.

    According to this unofficial site, someone in Utah legally becomes an adult at age 18.

    You say he wants to finish highschool "here". What state is "here"? If that state says e.g. he does not become legally an adult until (a) he is at least 18 years old and has graduated from high school, or (b) he is at least 20 years old, then it sounds like the government "here" would regard him as a minor, and want to ship him back to someplace where he was not a minor.

    His step-dad has been telling him that if he leaves, then he will have to pay for past medical expenses incurred when he was a minor.
    Tell step-dad, "Nice try. Goodbye." A child is under no legal obligation to repay any expenses incurred by a parent while raising the child. I think a person is under a moral obligation to "pay it forward" by raising their own children.

    Personally, I would not make a big decision such as this by relying on some advice on a bulletin board, or some unofficial web site. I would want to be sure of the law. I would see an attorney, or look up the law yourself (by going to the Utah web site and search or browse their statutes.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Toledo, OH
    Posts
    16,307

    Default Re: Is 18 Year Old a Legal Adult Even Though He Will Be Starting His Senior Year in H

    His step-dad has been telling him that if he leaves, then he will have to pay for past medical expenses incurred when he was a minor. Step-dad says he won't pay it any longer if the boy leaves.
    Step-dad is full of something smelly and unpleasant.

    The boy is not responsible for medical expenses incurred as a minor. Whomever signed the papers as the responsible party - Mom, Step-dad, or both - is who is on the hook for the bill. Period, end of story.

    Step-dad's tantrum to the contrary holds no water.

    He's also told him that just because he's 18 doesn't mean he's an adult and can leave their home. That if he's still in school then he's still a minor.
    Step-dad is sorely mistaken.

    In the state of Utah, you become a legal adult on your 18th birthday, or the day you graduate from high school - whichever comes SOONER.

    Kiddo can walk out the door at 12:01AM on his 18th birthday and never look back, if that pleases him. Sounds like it will.

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