Soulmate Gem
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk Pexels Logo Photo: Pavel Danilyuk

What age can your parents stop telling you what to do?

The Duration of Parents' Legal Obligations: The Basics Parental obligations typically end when a child reaches the age of majority, which is 18 years old in most states. However, check the laws of your state, as the age of majority can be different from one state to the next.

How long do beautiful girls lives?
How long do beautiful girls lives?

The most attractive women lived to an average age of 76, three more than those who weren't rated as all that hot. The only logical conclusion?...

Read More »
Why do I feel magnetically drawn to someone?
Why do I feel magnetically drawn to someone?

As we get to know someone better, our bodies respond to them by secreting hormones like oxytocin and dopamine. What is this? These hormones make us...

Read More »

While parents have the right to make important decisions about their children's lives, they also have certain legal duties. Parents are legally required to support their minor children. Supporting your children includes providing food, clothing, shelter, and basic care. Failing to provide for your children can lead to neglect or abuse charges in most states. But how long do parents' legal obligations to their children continue? The following article explores this important question.

The Duration of Parents' Legal Obligations: The Basics

Parental obligations typically end when a child reaches the age of majority, which is 18 years old in most states. However, check the laws of your state, as the age of majority can be different from one state to the next. The duration of parental obligations may extend beyond the age of majority if a child is disabled. There are also certain circumstances in which such obligations can be terminated before a child reaches the age of majority. Many parents choose to continue to support their children after the age of majority, such as while the child attends college. The federal government expects parents to contribute to their children's education and calculates financial aid based on parental income. Federal financial aid doesn't consider a parent who doesn't want to pay for college, even if the student no longer lives at home, to be a sufficient reason to consider the student independent.

Emancipation of Minors

Emancipation is a means by which parental obligations can be terminated before a child reaches the age of majority. It's the legal process that allows a minor to assume responsibility for their own welfare. When a child becomes emancipated, their parents are no longer legally obligated to support the child. In some states, emancipation is automatic in certain circumstances, even though the minor is under the age of majority. For example, joining the armed forces or getting married may lead to emancipation. If your child marries or joins the military, you're no longer legally responsible for their welfare. Minors seeking emancipation must file a petition with the court and meet certain state-specific criteria. When making an emancipation determination, courts often consider the best interests of the child and their level of maturity.

Divorce and Parental Obligations

Parental duties don't end with divorce. In many states, divorced parents are required to pay child support in order to cover their children's basic needs. Generally speaking, parents' legal obligations last -- and child support payments continue -- until the child reaches the age of majority. However, in certain circumstances, support obligations can be modified or even prematurely terminated. To modify a child support arrangement, a parent generally must show that their financial circumstances have changed and that paying the previously ordered amount is no longer possible. Losing your job, becoming seriously injured, suffering a drop in income, or a change in marital status or number of children can all make child support modification necessary. If your life circumstances change, you may want to petition the court for a change in your child support obligation. Stepparents have no legal duty to provide for stepchildren unless the stepparent legally adopts their stepchild.

How Long Do Parents' Legal Obligations Last? Talk to a Lawyer

The legal process of emancipation can be confusing depending on the laws of your state and the type of parental status involved. If you're a minor who is seeking emancipation, it might be wise to speak with an attorney. To fully understand the emancipation process, including parental rights and responsibilities, you may wish to contact a local family law attorney who can help answer your questions.

What are the 4 rare zodiac signs?
What are the 4 rare zodiac signs?

Top 3 Rarest Zodiac Signs: Are You one of them? Aquarius (January 20 – February 18) The sun enters Aquarius at the end of January and stays there...

Read More »
What not to share on a first date?
What not to share on a first date?

7 Things You Should Never Say on a First Date Leave Your Parents Out of It. Politics are a Huge Turnoff. Don't Play the Numbers Game. Forget About...

Read More »

Can dogs sense the afterlife?

Although this is a personal topic and will depend on what you believe about the afterlife, there is quite a bit of literature and research about a dog's ability to sense the supernatural. Although there may not be actual scientific proof, it is possible a dog can sense the supernatural.

If you delve into studies and literature about the supernatural, the afterlife, and spirits, it is a widely accepted notion that the scientific community does not recognize these things as real. However, what can be agreed upon on this topic is that we still do not know much - if anything - about the supernatural, which leaves open a door to the possibility of its existence. There is also a lot that the scientific community does not understand about dogs, as well, since there is only so much we can find out and study about them at this point. We cannot read their minds or see what they are seeing...just yet. What science can tell us is that dogs have very keen and powerful senses, something that us humans cannot even begin to imagine. Their senses like sight, hearing, and smell allow them to pick up on various things that we cannot see or detect. Theoretically, this could allow them to pick up on spirits and supernatural events that most humans are not able to detect with their senses. Your dog's sense of smell is about 10,000 times more powerful, their eyes can detect slight movements we cannot, and they can hear higher frequencies, making them able to hear sounds we could never be able to. With the minimal research experiments that have been done, pet psychologist Marty Miller suggests dogs can sense spirits because they are able to detect slight changes in the atmosphere, which likely happens when there is a spirit or other supernatural entity present.

What PDA is OK in school?
What PDA is OK in school?

However, kissing, holding hands, hugging within reason should be allowed!” Most schools are trying to prevent Public Display of Affection on school...

Read More »
What is the youngest a baby can live?
What is the youngest a baby can live?

Usually, the earliest a baby can survive is about 22 weeks gestation. The age of viability is 24 weeks. For babies born at 22 weeks, there's a...

Read More »
What are the signs that he is the one?
What are the signs that he is the one?

Take a look at these signs you've found the one, according to marriage experts and psychologists. You share the same values. ... You share the same...

Read More »
Why do twin flames go silent?
Why do twin flames go silent?

Why do twin flames go silent? Twin flames may go silent if they aren't ready to embrace the relationship. They may even want to put things on hold...

Read More »