Is a 16 year old allowed to live by himself?

[Anonymous]

In Montgomery County?
And if so, are there parameters like frequent check-ins by a trusted adult, etc?

[Anonymous]

Emancipation of a minor can be an option. What’s the story?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

My friend in high school did this. Parents lived in Korea. He lived with his brother (a year younger) in the US so they could go to school. They had an aunt in the area and she dropped in once a week I think.

He was pretty responsible -- we had a sleepover at his place and no wild parties, just the usual benign watching movies and eating pizza stuff.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

The story is that I may need to leave the US in a few months while my immigration paperwork gets sorted out. USCIS has a huge backlog of cases, so it could take 2 years, but maybe not for my type of application, in which case it could take just a few months - my attorney cannot tell me. He’s not even sure at this point whether I will need to leave, but then last time, he was sure I didn’t need to leave, until I was given 48 hours notice to leave, which was incredibly stressful (that was years ago and we left as a family).

My son is doing well in school, and I was wondering whether he could stay to finish high school, with friends checking on him. Or would he need to stay with someone? Do I need to sign a letter authorizing his stay? He’s never stayed by himself before.

[Anonymous]

Can he, sure. Is it a good idea? No. Does he have a friend or family he can stay with or any adult at least to look in on him? Can you hire someone to live in the house and be there with him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can he, sure. Is it a good idea? No. Does he have a friend or family he can stay with or any adult at least to look in on him? Can you hire someone to live in the house and be there with him?

This.

[Anonymous]

When I was a senior in HS, one of my classmates (we were both 17 at graduation) lived alone all year because her parents moved to Europe. She had a credit card, an apt and a car. This was the wild 80s and yes, she did stupid stuff, but never enough to her the authorities involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP here.

The story is that I may need to leave the US in a few months while my immigration paperwork gets sorted out. USCIS has a huge backlog of cases, so it could take 2 years, but maybe not for my type of application, in which case it could take just a few months - my attorney cannot tell me. He’s not even sure at this point whether I will need to leave, but then last time, he was sure I didn’t need to leave, until I was given 48 hours notice to leave, which was incredibly stressful (that was years ago and we left as a family).

My son is doing well in school, and I was wondering whether he could stay to finish high school, with friends checking on him. Or would he need to stay with someone? Do I need to sign a letter authorizing his stay? He’s never stayed by himself before.

Will he have funds? Is he ok with this plan? Are you in MD, DC or VA? Every state has it's own laws.

[Anonymous]

Of course he can:

https://thelemon.news/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Live-Auto-News-Luke-Perry-Driving-Porsche.jpg

[Anonymous]

I would find a family he could stay with. It would not be good for him to be alone. (I speak from experience.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would find a family he could stay with. It would not be good for him to be alone. (I speak from experience.)

Yes, I have no idea if this is legal but if one of my son’s friends was in this predicament I would gladly open up my home to him. Do you have a friend who can be an option?

[Anonymous]

Have him stay with a friend and family. I would offer my home to my kid’s friend.

[Anonymous]

I believe this would qualify as neglect if he was not emancipated.

You have a responsibility to ensure his safety and care until he is 18. He's NOT 18. You would be abandoning him. That is neglect. It is not o.k.

You need to arrange for his guardianship. Someone needs to be responsible for him. I do not think you can get him emancipated just because you want to leave the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP here.

The story is that I may need to leave the US in a few months while my immigration paperwork gets sorted out. USCIS has a huge backlog of cases, so it could take 2 years, but maybe not for my type of application, in which case it could take just a few months - my attorney cannot tell me. He’s not even sure at this point whether I will need to leave, but then last time, he was sure I didn’t need to leave, until I was given 48 hours notice to leave, which was incredibly stressful (that was years ago and we left as a family).

My son is doing well in school, and I was wondering whether he could stay to finish high school, with friends checking on him. Or would he need to stay with someone? Do I need to sign a letter authorizing his stay? He’s never stayed by himself before.

Will he have funds? Is he ok with this plan? Are you in MD, DC or VA? Every state has it's own laws.

Yes to funds.
No, neither of us are OK with this! But neither are we OK with giving up what he's worked so hard for in school. We don't know how long we might be gone, and then it's goodbye to changes of a good college.
We're in Montgomery County, MD, as I stated in my OP.