Legally, they can take your money and do whatever they want with it. As a minor child, you cannot legally own anything. Everything you own is legally the property of your parents. If you're an adult, just move out and get a bank account with your own name on it (and don't do a joint account with your parents).
A: In most cases, if you are 18 years old and legally an adult, your parents do not have the right to take money that you have earned, even if they pay for your phone and related expenses.
It's legal, but not ethical. Unless that child earned it from working at a job then the child has more claim to that money than if it was just money given to them by a relative. Unfortunately, if your under 18 you're still considered a minor so you're parent could get away with it.
In general, though, once you reach the age of majority, your parents can't spend your money without your consent. Some who earn enough have a separate bank account they use to send their parents money instead.
Generally speaking, a parent can still take the phone away from the child and search through the phone. While the phone may belong to the child, the parent is able to exercise control over the device if the parent believes it is in the child's best interest.
Can You Withdraw Money From a Custodial Account? Yes, money can be withdrawn from custodial accounts, as long as it is used "for the benefit of the minor," a vague term that includes, but isn't limited to, educational costs.
As a parent, you have no legal authority over “your” children. Al- though you may have equitable posses- sion and control over “your” kids, they are the legal property of the state. That's why government tends to dismiss par- ents' complaints about subjects like “Outcome-Based Education”. Under 28 U.S.C.
Generally, a person receiving a gift from their family does not have to pay gift tax until a donation exceeds $18,000 (this amount increases to $19,000 in 2025). A gift tax is a government tax imposed on those who give money or property to others in exchange for nothing (or less than total value).
Absolutely. The law does not discriminate against or for education, so an 18-year-old in high school is an independent adult, even while slogging away at AP exams and preparing for Senior Prank.
Can I claim my child as a dependent if they are over 18? Yes, if they meet certain criteria, you can claim your child as a dependent even if they are over 18. For instance, if your dependent is a college student full-time, they can qualify as a dependent up to 24 years old.
Paying kids an allowance develops their financial skills and helps them to make smarter decisions about money as adults. It also encourages them to be financially independent rather than relying on their parents for money.
Once your child reaches age 18, you can no longer make decisions for them, even if they're incapacitated, unless they have signed a health care proxy. Similarly, a durable power of attorney authorizes you to manage your child's finances in the event that they are unable to make decisions themselves.
Until your child turns 18 years old, you have legal control over all the major decisions in their life: housing, finances, school, health care and even elements of everyday life. But, at 18 years old, your child gains legal control over all of these areas – and more.
Once a child turns 18 or is emancipated, he or she enjoys the full protection of our constitutional rights, including the right to privacy. But until a child turns 18, he has no expectation of privacy.
It's not illegal to take money from your kids in most cases, although, of course, there are exceptions, like if the child's money is in a specific trust and you abuse the funds.
The Duration of Parents' Legal Obligations: The Basics
In most states, parental obligations typically end when a child reaches the age of majority, 18 years old. But, check the laws of your state, as the age of majority can be different from one state to the next.
And No. 3, once you turn 18, they can't take your stuff anymore.
The toxic father (or the toxic mother) will tell his child things like “didn't I tell you not to do that?”, “you got in trouble because you deserved it…”, or “I work so hard to pay for your studies in a good school… “. The result? The child feels guilty and sad not to be able to please his/her father (or parent) more.
Cold mother syndrome refers to a parenting style characterized by emotional distance, dismissiveness, and rejection. This type of mothering is often accompanied by a lack of emotional availability and neglect of a child's emotional needs.
So legally speaking, no. Even for minors, the law on personal property applies the same as it does to adults. This means that if you paid for your own phone and you are paying for it from your job, your parents have no right to take it from you at all. Technically, you could sue them for that.
However, there are many accounts held on behalf of children with one of their parents as trustee. Here, providing the trustee can prove they are using the monies for the benefit of the child, they can withdraw funds from the child's account.
The CFPB says that under most state laws or bank rules, you usually cannot remove the joint account holder without the other person's consent. One advantage to having a joint account at the same bank as your parent is the ease with which they can transfer money from their account to yours.