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What is the legal age to have minor home alone in California?

What is the legal age to have minor home alone in California?

Q: What is the youngest legal age to stay home alone?

There is no legally defined youngest age for staying home alone in California. Parents are encouraged to assess their child's readiness for being left alone based on individual circumstances rather than relying on a specific age.

Q: Can a 10 year old stay home alone in California?

While there is no specific law in California prohibiting a 10-year-old from staying home alone, parents must evaluate their child's maturity and ability to handle potential situations. It's essential to ensure that the child feels safe and can manage being alone.

Q: At what age can a child legally leave home in California?

In California, minors are generally considered to be under the age of 18. They cannot legally leave home without parental consent until they reach adulthood, which is 18 years old. However, minors can seek emancipation under certain circumstances.

Full question:

What is the legal age to have minor home alone in Los Angeles, CA. (only for a couple of hours after school until parent returns home from work)

Category: Minors
Date: 04/07/2025
State: California

Answer:

There is no defined legal age in California at which parents may leave their children home alone, but the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Child Care Information Center may provide some helpful information.

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.

FAQs

What's the legal age in California for a child to stay home alone?

California does not define a specific legal age for leaving a child home alone. Instead, it is up to parents to use their judgment based on the child's maturity and ability to handle emergencies. It's important for parents to consider the child's age, maturity level, and the duration they will be left alone.