Hello,
At what age can a child move out and decide to stay out of the home? I am the father and pay child support to my ex and our oldest daughter has recently moved out of her moms place and into her friends home. Our daughter is just 14 and I am wondering if she can make that decision on her own... also... can my support go to her directly or to the adults of her new residence?


Thanks

What does her mother have to say about her moving out?
I am not sure I would want to pay anybody the money until the situation is more clear.
Like what if you pay it to the other family and she moves back home the next day?
Also if her mother decides to cause trouble with her leaving home, the family can get in trouble for harboring a minor.

She can be considered a run-away if she is not emancipated. And the chil support goes to the legal guardian, which is her mother. Unless the adults of where she is living take legal guardianship of her. If she is unhappy living with her mother, then you would easily be able to get custody of her, if that is something that you both want.

The daughter and her mom are not speaking (situations with moms boyfriend) and I've been to child services and was told that at the age of 14 she can choose to live where she want to. I have talked with my daughter and said she can live with me but she wants to stay at the friends place. Just wondering what can be done. I am living in Nova Scotia

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Originally Posted by bigbadd

ive been to child services and was told that at the age of 14 she can choose to live where she want to.

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Hello big:

Don't get your legal advice from bureaucrats. They don't EVEN know their OWN jobs, much less the law. Hire a lawyer.

excon

Whoever you spoke to doesn't know what they are talking about. A CHILD (minor) can NEVER decide where they want to live. A child can express their preference but the decision is always with a judge. The child can't even bring the matter before a court, that has to be done by an adult.

The friend's family can get into a lot of trouble by harboring a runaway.

This is correct, a child can never decide that they can just move out. She is a run away and you could go to court at this point and file for custody since the mother may be considered un-fit by not properly supervising her.

You will need to get an attorney and take ex back to court

I agree with all answers, and would urge you to obtain custody of your daughter. I don't admire someone would let their daughter just move out into a home with her friends. Her mother should know better. And also the fact that you're daughter's mother is apparently choosing her boyfriend over your child is not very good parenting, either.

She cannot make that decision on her own. She is a runaway and her mother still has legal custody over her and as such is the one legally entitled to receive the support payments. Now if that eventually changes by an action of the court and some other adult(s) are given custody of your daughter then they'd be the ones to receive the support payments.