What are a parent's legal rights in California if a child turns 18 before finishing high school and refuses to go to school? Is it now up to the child? My step daughter does nothing all day and refuses to go back to school to finish the 12th grade. My husband has told her if she wants to continue to be taken care of by him and live with us, she needs to either be in school or get a job. But we are very worried about her not finishing high school. She has taken the GED but won't tell us if she got her score - I have no idea how to find out what her scores are since she signed herself up for it.

The age of majority in California is 18. At that time you can throw her out of the house if she doesn't live by the rules and that works for you. Otherwise her PARENT can apply to the Court to have her emancipated - and that involves also taking a stand.

I don't understand why she would go back to school if she has her GED - if she has it, of course.

Well this is the second time since June she claims she took it so until we see the score it's hard to say that she's "got" her GED. She has to pass it first and judging by her many failed classes at the end of last term, it seems unlikely. She is mentally unstable so I wouldn't kick her out.

... and by the way she has been seeing a therapist (I can't stand) 2x a week for the past 3 years. I'm a stepparent so if it was up to me I'd have changed therapists but as it is the therapist calls all the shots and my stepdaughter has no respect for her Dad and detests me.

I don't know how disturbed she is or what the circumstances are but she would be productive to the extent she can be productive or she would be out. Sorry to sound mean but I'm a stepmother times 4 and no way in my house.