At what age can children be left alone overnight in Texas?

Full question:

At what age can children be left alone overnight in Texas? I have a 12 and 14 year old (7th grade and 9th grade) who no longer want an overnight sitter while I work. We have great neighbors next door and across the street that are available by phone and have offered to check in on them or let them come over to sleep if a storm comes up and they don't want to be home alone, etc. Also, I work less than 10 minutes away. Would it be illegal or ill-advised to allow this?

• Category: Minors
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: Texas

Answer:

The following is a portion of a TX statute:

4) "Neglect[0]" includes:

 

(A) the leaving of a child[0] in a situation where
the child[0] would be exposed to a substantial risk of physical or
mental harm, without arranging for necessary care for the child[0],
and the demonstration of an intent not to return by a parent,
guardian, or managing or possessory conservator of the child[0];

 

(B) the following acts or omissions by a person:

 

(i) placing a child[0] in or failing to remove
a child[0] from a situation that a reasonable person would realize
requires judgment or actions beyond the child's[0] level of maturity,
physical condition, or mental abilities and that results in bodily
injury or a substantial risk of immediate harm to the child[0];

 

(ii) failing to seek, obtain, or follow
through with medical care for a child[0], with the failure resulting in
or presenting a substantial risk of death, disfigurement, or bodily
injury or with the failure resulting in an observable and material
impairment to the growth, development, or functioning of the child[0];

 

(iii) the failure to provide a child[0] with
food, clothing, or shelter necessary to sustain the life or health
of the child[0], excluding failure caused primarily by financial
inability unless relief services had been offered and refused;

 

(iv) placing a child[0] in or failing to remove
the child[0] from a situation in which the child[0] would be exposed to a
substantial risk of sexual conduct harmful to the child[0]; or

 

(v) placing a child[0] in or failing to remove
the child[0] from a situation in which the child[0] would be exposed to
acts or omissions that constitute abuse under Subdivision (1)(E),
(F), (G), (H), or (K) committed against another child[0]; or

 

(C) the failure by the person responsible for a
child's[0] care, custody, or welfare to permit the child[0] to return to
the child's[0] home without arranging for the necessary care for the
child[0] after the child[0] has been absent from the home for any reason,
including having been in residential placement or having run away.

 

(5) "Person responsible for a child's[0] care, custody,
or welfare" means a person who traditionally is responsible for a
child's[0] care, custody, or welfare, including:

 

(A) a parent, guardian, managing or possessory
conservator, or foster parent of the child[0];

 

(B) a member of the child's[0] family or household
as defined by Chapter 71;

 

(C) a person with whom the child's[0] parent
cohabits;

 

(D) school personnel or a volunteer at the
child's[0] school; or

 

(E) personnel or a volunteer at a public or
private child[0]-care facility that provides services for the child[0] or
at a public or private residential institution or facility where
the child[0] resides.