Young adults living with their parents may find themselves in this situation, either because they have never left© the family home or because they returned© after© leaving (see Box© 1). Young adults© who are in school or looking for a full-time job can temporarily benefit from©© living with their parents, both in terms of logistics and financial support and mobility©. This lifestyle may also be due to©©cultural preferences or a strategy©©of young adults and their parents to compensate for low income from work or the high© cost©of living in some parts©of the country. To solve this problem, it is possible to enroll children in school daycare or hire a heimbabysitter, but both are often expensive. While they are mandatory for very young children who are not yet self-sufficient, many parents rightly believe that their teen or tween is perfectly capable of going home alone and taking care of themselves for a few hours a day. With the obligations and whims of life (single parents, two parents working outside, etc.), it is very common for children to finish school before a parent can welcome them home. But not all the rights of young people are affected by emancipation. See the question “Does an emancipated teenager get the same rights as an adult for everything?” The simply emancipated adolescent thus becomes autonomous for certain actions that would otherwise require the participation of his guardian. For example, the simply emancipated minor may rent accommodation for a period of up to three years.

In addition, the emancipated minor no longer has to be represented by his guardian in the exercise of his civil rights. He can therefore sign contracts or assert his rights himself. Under the law, adolescents remain under the authority of their parents until they reach the age of majority. Your rights are therefore limited until the age of 18. For example, they cannot leave the family home without parental permission, and a possible departure would be considered an outlier. But sometimes the relationship between parents and their teen becomes so conflictual that the teen then expresses his desire to leave the family home. For the teenager from the age of 16, there are rules that allow him to fly on his own wings. However, emancipation has no influence on his rights under other laws. An emancipated teenager does not have the right to vote, buy cigarettes or go to bars.

He is also not brought before adult court if he commits a crime. The time when the child is left alone at home (the time of day). In our example, when a petition is made to the court, a judge can pronounce the simple emancipation or delegation of custody of Clara. He will consider his financial autonomy, the opinion of his parents, his needs and his life goals in his best interest. Only then will she be able to go to her grandmother`s house, but not before. If you think your child has the skills to stay home alone, that you trust them enough and well, you can prepare them gradually. From a legal point of view, there is no law in Quebec that determines whether or not a child can stay home alone. Therefore, it is believed that parents are in the best position to know if their child is mature and responsible enough to spend a few hours without the presence of an adult.

Since we cannot rely on the basis of a legal minimum age to leave our child alone, we need to consider different contexts and exercise a lot of judgment. No. An emancipated young person is granted certain rights, including those provided for by the Civil Code of Québec, for example: signing contracts, living elsewhere than with his parents, making his will, suing someone, obtaining his driver`s license without the authorization of his parents, in the case of a fully emancipated minor, he will be able to receive social assistance benefits, etc. Sometimes this routine can work perfectly for several months and then escalate overnight. This is especially true for teenagers who want to change from month to month and have more freedom, receive their friends at home or go for a walk in the mall. It is your duty to talk to your teen if you have any doubts about their behavior, even if it means taking stricter steps with them. After all, you are responsible for his safety at all times, even if you are not by his side! Note: Since a child from the age of 12 is considered fit to care for other children, the DYP believes that the child will avoid putting himself in a dangerous situation. For this reason, in case of discomfort or injury, the interventions apply to children under 12 years of age.

However, we must not forget that as parents, we are responsible for our minor children, regardless of their age. Full emancipation also allows the young person to no longer be under the authority of his parents or guardians. It confers on the young person full legal capacity and therefore certain rights and obligations reserved for adults. He can sue his parents for alimony, make his will, sign a lease, buy, rent, sell, have a mortgage as if he had reached the age of majority.