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    D_DAshley's Avatar
    D_DAshley Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    May 22, 2011, 06:19 PM
    Apartment at 16
    I am 16 years old, I'm not a teen mom, and I live in the U.S. But I would like to know of it is possible for me to rent my own apartment at my age if I have my parent as my legal co-signer?
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #2

    May 22, 2011, 06:26 PM

    Your parents can rent the apartment but you will not be on the lease as a lessor. In nearly every single state you must be 18 to enter into a contract. In many states you can live by yourself at 16 but you need to tell us where you reside.
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
    Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
    		  
    #3

    May 22, 2011, 06:28 PM

    No you can't. At 16 you cannot enter into a contract and a lease is a contract. Your parents can enter into a lease and allow you to live there, except they could be in trouble for allowing a minor to be on their own.
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
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    #4

    May 22, 2011, 06:32 PM

    No you can not, your parents could rent the apartment under their name, but again I doubt the landlord will even rent it, if they know that a 16 year old will be living there without parents.

    Also you can not put the electric or water or gas in your name either, ( not even the trash service if you have to pay for it) and all of it will have to be in the parents name.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
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    #5

    May 22, 2011, 06:40 PM

    I stand corrected, it is not nearly every state, it is 18 or older in every state to enter a contract. Emancipation of minors - laws | LII / Legal Information Institute
    D_DAshley's Avatar
    D_DAshley Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    May 22, 2011, 06:51 PM
    I live in the state of Indiana.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
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    #7

    May 22, 2011, 07:00 PM

    Still no, must be 18 to enter into a contract. Not 100% sure about Indiana but fairly certain you can not live alone at 16 even if mom and dad rented you an apartment. What's up, do you need some other help other than an apartment?
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
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    #8

    May 22, 2011, 07:01 PM

    The issue will be signing the contract, not the moving out, while children protective services may have some issues if it is reported to them,

    I am addressing this just from the contract side of it, since they are 16, they can not sign a contract so they can not sign a legal binding contract.

    And of course what job do you have to pay the rents, the electric. And all the other bills. Do you have deposit,

    And most of the nicer apartments will not rent to you because of the age, and most will not reant do to physical condition
    D_DAshley's Avatar
    D_DAshley Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #9

    May 22, 2011, 07:12 PM
    Even though it's not really what I wanted to hear, thanks everyone for all of your help.
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