Youth Law
General Youth Law Articles
There are times when a tenant needs a cosigner. Sometimes a tenant, through frugal spending habits, can actually pay the required rent, but doesn’t meet the basic income requirements of the industry.
In the past few sessions of the Maryland General Assembly, several new laws were passed that greatly restrict the way minors can operate their automobiles
Youth under the age of 18 charged with committing a crime are treated differently than adults. The goals of the juvenile court and the juvenile justice system are to address the causes of the misconduct while protecting the community.
Turning 18 brings new rights, responsibilities, and things to consider.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) is a form of immigration relief available to undocumented children living in the U.S. who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected by at least one parent and meet several other eligibility requirements.
This article explains the steps in the juvenile record expungement process.
Maryland law restricts reading, writing, or sending a text message, or using a handheld telephone, while operating a motor vehicle.
This article discusses the minimum age to purchase tobacco products and paraphernalia in Maryland, and the legal exception to the minimum age for military personnel. The article also presents the legal definitions of tobacco product and tobacco paraphernalia.
A lease is a contract. A minor is generally not bound by his or her contracts. This means that, if a minor enters into a contract, the law will allow the minor to "void" the contract.
The Maryland Court of Appeals has held that medical care is the responsibility of the parent. This article outlines some rights in regard to minors.
Child Abuse
Children (under age 18) are deemed to be "in the need of assistance" if there is apparent abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) or neglect by a caretaker.
Criminal Law
The age of consent refers to the legal age in which someone may engage in sexual activity.
A Child In Need of Supervision is a child who needs guidance, treatment, or rehabilitation.
This article defines who is counted as a child under Maryland criminal law.
The juvenile expungement law establishes a procedure through which a person with a juvenile record can ask a court to have the record "expunged" (removed from public view).
When a minor (someone younger than 18) commits an offense that would be considered a crime if committed by an adult, the offense is considered an act of juvenile delinquency.
This article explains the steps in the juvenile record expungement process.
Maryland law makes it a crime to fail to provide for children in your care.
In Maryland, a child under the age of 8 years may not be left unattended at home, at school, or in a car.
Custody
Custody and visitation are the legal terms for court decisions about how the child will spend his/her time between parents (or others).
Visitation is the part of the court order that defines when, how and where the non-custodial parent may have contact with the child.
Emancipation
Emancipation of a minor generally refers to the process of freeing a minor (person under age 18) from parental control.
For minors who want emancipation from their parent or guardian. Depending on age, minors have the right to make some independent decisions.
For parents who want emancipation from their child.
Employment
When do you need a work permit? How to get a work permit?
This article describes laws written to keep minors in the workplace safe.
Juvenile Expungement
The juvenile expungement law establishes a procedure through which a person with a juvenile record can ask a court to have the record "expunged" (removed from public view).
Maryland law permits a person with a juvenile record to seek to have that record expunged under certain circumstances.
For a court to order a juvenile record expungement, the judge must make the findings and consider the factors explained in this article.
This article explains the steps in the juvenile record expungement process.
Schooling
"Bullying" occurs when you are repeatedly harassed or intimidated by another student. Bullying includes threats and nasty remarks as well as physical actions like pushing or hitting, written conduct, and damaging your property.
This is a summary of the procedures for school discipline in Maryland. There are three types of disciplinary penalties and different procedures apply to each.
This article lists links to local county school handbooks.
Maryland law requires all children, 5 years and older and under 18, who live in this state and attend public schools to attend school regularly unless excused with a lawful absence.
This article outlines the types of offenses that a student may be disciplined for in schools.