Is my 18 year old entitled to her stuff that is in my home even if we paid for it all?

Full question:

My 18 year old ran away. Now she wants "HER" stuff. She has NEVER had a job and her father and I feel everything she wants is OURS since we paid for it for her to USE while she lived with us. What are OUR legal rights?

Answer:

You should return any property given to your daughter as a gift by either
you or your husband. A gift is the voluntary transfer of property or funds to
another without receiving anything of value in return and without conditions
attached. The gift giver (donor) must understand the nature of the act and
have a voluntary intent to make a gift, called a donative intent. There must
be either physical or symbolic delivery of the gift and actual or imputed
acceptance by the donee.

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

Once you turn 18, you are considered an adult in most states. This means your parents are generally no longer legally responsible for your financial support or decisions. However, they may still have some responsibilities if you are a full-time student or have special needs.