Full question:
I have a minor child(17) that refuses to live in my home. She will not allow me to do my job as a parent by following the rules of my home. I have lost control of her. I will not compromise with the simple rules of the home. She cannot live with these rules so she packed up and left. She is not missing, she is not homeless, I did not kick her out, and she is welcome back at anytime as long as she lives by those rules. What is her legal classification in Maine? Is she a runaway? Homeless? Am I, as a parent, obligated to inform anyone? Where I have lost control of her am I responsible for her actions? If so, Is there anything I can do to protect myself from her poor actions?
- Category: Minors
- Date:
- State: Maine
Answer:
It's unclear how a court would classify your child. If she is emancipated, you may not be held responsible for her actions. According to Maine law, a juvenile may be taken into interim care by a law enforcement officer if:
- They are abandoned, lost, or seriously endangered, requiring immediate removal for their protection.
- They have left their parents' or guardians' care without consent.
However, a juvenile taken into interim care cannot be held for more than six hours. This action is not considered an arrest and will not appear as such in police records.
If a juvenile is taken into interim care, law enforcement or the Department of Health and Human Services must notify the parent or guardian as soon as possible. If you cannot be located, they will notify the person with whom the juvenile is residing.
When a juvenile is taken into interim care, law enforcement will contact the Department of Health and Human Services to arrange for their placement.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.