[db00058]

If a separated mother of a 17 yr old girl still in HS, going to college and has a job, leave this child alone and move in with another man, is this considered child abandonment?

[ScottGem]

Probably not. A 17 yr old would be considered old enough to care for themselves. As long as the mother keeps contact and checks on the girl, I doubt if this would be considered abandonment.

[cdad]

Probably not. A 17 yr old would be considered old enough to care for themselves. As long as the mother keeps contact and checks on the girl, I doubt if this would be considered abandonment.

There is much more to it then that. It would be failure to provide clause that could come into play here. The mother is still responsible for taking care of the child including providing a roof over the child's head and groceries.

[ScottGem]

There is much more to it then that. It would be failure to provide clause that could come into play here. The mother is still responsible for taking care of the child including providing a roof over the childs head and groceries.

I don't see anything in the OP that indicates the mother wasn't continuing to provide a roof or food. Only that the mother was spending overnights with a boyfriend.

[cdad]

I don't see anything in the OP that indicates the mother wasn't continuing to provide a roof or food. Only that the mother was spending overnights with a boyfriend.

The only thing that raised a red flag with me was that the mother "moved" in with the boyfriend. So I was stating what made the grounds for abandonment possible.

[ScottGem]

The only thing that raised a red flag with me was that the mother "moved" in with the boyfriend. So I was stating what made the grounds for abandonment possible.

I suspect the judgement that she moved in is from the outside.

[Fr_Chuck]

Agreed more info is needed, who is paying for the food, for the apartment, who is providing for the other care.

It would give the other parent grounds to file for custody perhaps.