I Need Some Important Legal/Banking Advice

[seg4527]

Hi, I'm steve.

I live in Pennsylavnia, but my girlfriend lives in Minnesota. So, I decided that I would rather move to Minnesota and be with my girlfriend than go to college. Actually, I do want to go to college, but in Minnesota, and I'm going to try to establish residency. Here is my question, though.

I've been saving up all summer from my job, and have about 3,000 dollars in the bank, which would cover the move, and give me a few months to find a job. I agreed to rent a room from someone for 450 a month. The problem is, I am 17 years old until this sunday.

I have more than enough to get myself started. Except that since I'm only 17, my account is in trust of my mother. My parents told me that they would not let me get to my money, and even though I will be 18, since it's only "in trust" for me, they don't have to let me have it.

They are doing this because they want me to go to college, and not move away and "blow off" college, even though that's not what I'm doing.

They told me about this just today. And I told the guy who I'd be renting from that I could move in early September. I haven't signed anything yet, since I'm not quite 18, though.

So do I have any legal rights to that money? Or do I basically have to wait till i'm 18, set up a new account, and start all over again?

I'm quite emotionally hurt right now. My parents, while not the best, have always been supportive of me. And I know they just want what's right for me. But I've been working 40 hours a week all summer for this. And now it's just gone?

Any advice would be helpful.

[homerthompson]

1. find out if the cash is truly in a trust

they could be bluffing you. if you can't wait, you could file for emancipation, and they wouldn't be your legal guardians anymore.
lastly, your parents are just watching out for you, and don't want to see you rush into a situation just b/c you fear losing your girlfriend. btw, high school romance rarely survives through the college years anyway. what's another year to you? you're young.

[seg4527]

3. It is in a trust, I'm sure of it.

We've been going out for 14 months, and I wouldn't rush into anything I didn't think was very very serious.

[ronnykmarshall]

2. You don't have legal rights to the money.

If the account is set in of your mom, she has the control of the account even after you turn 18.

[happynewyear]

5. this person is correct

If its in a "trust" it can be revoked (unless it is an irrevocable trust). I know - been there and done that one already = pile of shit. It was used to control and manipulate me.

They are all dead and gone now, as is the money I never quite got.

Oh well. May the rest in peace.

:dem: :kick:

[seg4527]

7. It's fucking bullshit.

God damn fucking bullshit.

Oh well.

The saddest part is that I know they care about me, and I know they're doing what they think is right, which makes it even harder for me to do what I'm doing. Because while I don't want to make them happy, I want to be happy too.

[Spinzonner]

4. I think you need to think about whether

you're being impulsive. Perhaps hormones are dominating your thinking.

That's not a criticism; it's just that those amotions can be overpowering.

You are so very young. Are you really that committed to a relationship. Is SHE ? Does it really have a long term future. Will you be able to concentrate on you education properly so far from home with no support system to fall back on ?

Perhaps you should consider staying at home for a while and going to school locally and getting a feel for college and your emotional situation - it can change drastically - and hers and if things are then the same as you feel now, you can still move and be better prepared and perhaps with the confidence of your parents/

[seg4527]

6. I know she would do the same for me.

By the way, I just wanted some legal advice. And all though any other advice is appreciated, it will probably not be taken, as I've thought LONG and HARD about this.

[Spinzonner]

10. My personal experience is that

advice is best rejected after it has been given and considered, not filtered, rejected, or ignored before and during.

SO much opportunity to learn from other peoples experiences - and often mistakes - can be lost.

But it is your life, perhaps you just need to make them all yourself. And you seem determined to avoid a middle ground. Best of luck ...

[seg4527]

11. I know

And I'm sorry for reacting the way I did. But my dad had a long distance girlfriend when he was my age, and it didn't work out. And I hear a lot of implying that mine is going to end up like his, and I'm throwing my life away. And I was just tired of it.

Nothing personaly, and I'm sorry for reacting the way I did. :-)

[Nite Owl]

8. There is nothing that you can do until Monday anyway.

I think the fact that you put in your own earned money will have a bearing. I don't want to get your hopes up, it depends on what kind of account it is. If it is a custodial account you might have to be 21 before you are able to get to the money but if it is a regular bank account most likely it's 18. Then there are state laws that differ too. Just call them or go in on Monday and tell them it's your birthday and you would like to have the account solely in your name now and see what happens.

[flamingyouth]

9. Depending on the trust

You may have to be 21, actually.

I don't want to be the boring old voice of reason here, but love doesn't always last, while a little well-invested cash can help you later on in life. Without getting into details here, I am glad I made some wise decisions with the $ I inherited from my grandparents back when I was 21.

[mzmolly]

12. The advice you recieved is correct, it depends on how the account

was set up. :shrug:

I'd call the bank and ask the specifics. If it was set up so that your parents have a trust for you and they did not state in the trust that the money is yours at the age of 18, then you may be screwed. However, if you can prove that you earned the money by providing paystubs and tax returns you might have SOME legal recourse via the courts?

And, DON'T YOU DARE BLOW OFF COLLEGE! :hi:

[seg4527]

13. I have no intentinos of blowing off college. At all.

nt

[amazona]

14. what happened with us

My partner was 19 when we got together but his parents somehow got their name on his bank account when he was 16 and, yes, they did get all his money. It might depend on the state. I don't think we can help you. I think you need an attorney. Is there a Legal Aid that provides civil services in your area?

What's odd is I always thought my parents were so evil, yet they let me have my own bank account from the time I was 8!!!!

My partner did not speak to his parents for over 10 years because of this. It's over two decades now, and I still don't speak to them. Stealing from teen-agers...pretty low.

Really all I can do long distance is wish you good luck. I think you need some local advocacy.

P.S.on edit-- the person who said "call the bank" is right. My partner's life savings (don't laugh, he had 19 years of P/T jobs and birthday gifts in that account) were in a CD. Since his parents had added their name to the CD when he was 16 (playing the "don't you trust your own parents?" card) the bank said he couldn't cash in the CD and he was screwed out of that money.

<i>However</I>

They also said he could go ahead and take out the interest earned to date on the CD, which at that time was $800. So he went in and immediately did so. Hey, it was better than nothing -- that was 2 months living expenses in those days.

Your bank is the first stop in finding out your rights.

[happynewyear]

15. stealing from a teenager is very low!

I had inherited $10,000.00 when my grandmother passed away years ago. I never knew about it until recently.

And to think - it took me almost 20 years to finish my education - working 3 jobs at a time in some instances.

The person that LIED and said there was no will is still alive I think and now a very miserable 80 years old but living the "good life" I guess.

It angers me to think that the money was left to me and I never got it. I was working midnight shift in a downtown area of a not so safe city too at this very young age. That $10,000.00 would have paid for my education. :grr:

HAVE I SAID TONIGHT HOW MUCH I HATE THESE PEOPLE!?

[seg4527]

16. I guess sometimes life has to kick you in the crotch,

To make sure you're still awake.

[seg4527]

17. a bumb because i'm desperate

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