I have a 17 year old boy living with me since August 11, 2011. Before he moved in I had him call his mother because I told him his mother had to pay $300.00 a month for his room and board and she said that she couldn't afford $300.00 but could do $250.00 a month and I said that would be fine, so as you can see I willingly worked with her. Long story short since he moved in (08/11/2011) I have received only $166.80 for the month of August... just received today (11/02/2011) $125.00 which is half of September and had to tell her I was going to contact a lawyer if I did not receive the amount past due ($583.20). His mother has paid for nothing (school fee's; clothing; lunch money; senior portrait costs) except a $250.00 cell phone which is not a necessity of life so my question is: What do I need to do to ensure that I will get my monthly room and board on time each month before this innocent child has to be placed in his 7th different residence in the past 18 months?

You are in a tenuous legal position. The child is a minor and cannot enter a contract on his own. As a minor his parent(s) have control over him. You have NO legal standing. Allowing him to stay with you could be considered parental interference.

I would tell him to go home and forget the money you are owed because trying to sue to get it will open a can of worms you don't want to open.

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Originally Posted by ChristyRay

What do I need to do to ensure that I will get my monthly room and board on time each month before this innocent child has to be placed in his 7th different residence in the past 18 months?

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Im not quite understanding this part. Are you a foster parent or is this just an agreement between private individuals ?


What do you mean by his 7th different one?

Yes, who are you to this child ? A family member or just someone he moved in with ?

You just can't move a minor child in with you, in fact you may be in more trouble about this, than the mother, You need to send the child home

Okay... No I am not a Foster Parent.. This boy is a friend and fellow classmate of my son... We did not ask him to move in, he asked us if he could move in and his mother agreed to let him move in... his parents are divorced.. his mother lives where ever and currently lives in Daytona, Fl with her boyfriend.. he was living with his dad but "story goes" that dad's girlfriend told dad to either pick her or his kid and he chose girlfriend. And as for 7th place of residence... he (the child) told me that he has lived 6 different places in the past 18 months that my house was the 7th place...

HE told you. Did you verify this?

It is really nice you want to help this young man, but it sounds like you are being played. Even if you aren't, like we have said, you have put yourself in a dangerous position. I repeat my advice to send him home immediately.

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Originally Posted by ChristyRay

I... His mother has paid for nothing (school fee's; clothing; lunch money; senior portrait costs) except a $250.00 cell phone which is not a necessity of life ...

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And senior portrait costs are a necessity of life? :rolleyes:

If the mother promised to pay you $250 a month and breached that promise, sue her in small claims court.

I, for one, don't see the problem with taking care of the kid if his mother asked you to.

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Originally Posted by AK lawyer

I, for one, don't see the problem with taking care of the kid if his mother asked you to.

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And what proof does she have for that?

From the description it seems the mother is unfit and the child should be removed from that situation. Also I have to wonder if the noncustodial parent (if there is one) is paying child support and its not being passed through for the child's benefit.

Do you even have a POA in case of medical emergency for this child?

No I do not have a POA for him... I do have proof where the mother repeatedly has said he can live where he chooses to cause he will be 18 in 2 months and that it is her "legal obligation" to finacially support him until he turns 18 and yet she has every excuse why is can't send his money.. I have a soft heart for him and his situation but in the same sense I have 3 boys of my own to take care of but I can't and won't kick him out onto the streets cause it's apparent NEITHER one of his parents want him and that breaks my heart.

And in my opinion... yes senior portraits are a necessity of life because high school graduation only happens once in a lifetime!

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Originally Posted by ChristyRay

And in my opinion....YES SENIOR PORTRAITS ARE A NECESSITY OF LIFE BECAUSE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION ONLY HAPPENS ONCE IN A LIFETIME!!

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You had me on your side right up until this - printing in caps is the same as shouting at us. There really is no need to shout at the very people who are trying to help you with a legal problem. As it happens I agree that senior portraits are NOT a necessity of life. Food, clothing, shelter, yes. Senior portraits, no.

I think you owe "AK" an apology.

Based on this response I am questioning how/why you got involved in this situation in the first place as well as why the authorities have apparently never been involved. Doing a good deed to save a child is, of course, commendable. If the mother had said "no" to the monetary amount at the very beginning would you have taken the child in?

My other concern is the legality of all of this - he's enrolled in school at your address? I have one of these situations in my neighborhood. All went very well until the child got into a very minor accident. The parents suddenly were charging the caretaker/friend with parental interference.

I see a lot of problems here and agree with Scott - I wouldn't make waves.

I do apologize if any of you felt as though I was shouting at you... that was not my intentions at all; I was just trying to stress how I felt about Senior Year things. As for how we got involved; the child and my child came to us together and asked about him moving in (they have been friends all through high school)and as for the money he said his mother would pay us for him to stay here (cause she had paid for him at his previous residence) and to answer the question if she would've said "no" to pay for him would we have taken him in... honestly.. probably not because I have one graduating this year also and it is not only an expensive year but also one that we take very seriously and try to make extra special for our child/children and by having 2 to pay for takes away from mine... we appreciate everyone's feedback and now we see what the best thing to do is.

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Originally Posted by ChristyRay

I do apologize if any of you felt as though I was shouting at you...that was not my intentions at all; I was just trying to stress how I felt about Senior Year things. As for how we got involved; the child and my child came to us together and asked about him moving in (they have been friends all through high school)and as for the money he said his mother would pay us for him to stay here (cause she had paid for him at his previous residence) and to answer the question if she would've said "no" to pay for him would we have taken him in...honestly..probably not because I have one graduating this year also and it is not only an expensive year but also one that we take very seriously and try to make extra special for our child/children and by having 2 to pay for takes away from mine...we appreciate everyone's feedback and now we see what the best thing to do is.

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Please understand that on this section of the board we tend to stick to the law and how it reads. In saying that Im sure we all appreciate what your doing for this child. Its just we are limited in our answers when it comes to the law. We can understand the frustrations and the hurdles that you have jumped to accomplish as much as you have and I would like to congratulate you and thank you for your efforts.

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Originally Posted by ChristyRay

I do apologize if any of you felt as though I was shouting at you...that was not my intentions at all; I was just trying to stress how I felt about Senior Year things. ...

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Not a problem. I didn't have my hearing aid in anyway. :)

Although you and I disagree about what is and what is not a necessity, it's tangential to the main thrust of your questions anyway. Thank you for taking care of this kid. I suspect that in years to come it will be evident that you have made a great difference in his life.

Thank You All for helping us out with this situation. Everyone's insight was very helpful..

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Originally Posted by ChristyRay

Thank You All for helping us out with this situation. Everyone's insight was very helpful..

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There are many many boards here. Feel free to look around. Welcome to AMHD.

There are many many boards here. Feel free to look around. Welcome to AMHD.

I'm don't quiet understand what you mean by this?

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Originally Posted by ChristyRay

There are many many boards here. Feel free to look around. Welcome to AMHD.

I'm don't quiet understand what you mean by this?

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He means there are many topics - maybe some of them are of interest to you. You might want to look through the other categories and topics and participate in some of them.

Do you understand now?