Legal Question in Family Law in New Jersey

Re: Adoption

First, you are to be commended for your concern. Your friend in NJ needs someone to listen to him and you are doing a valuable service being supportive of his problem.

Now for the hard facts...Unless his mother agrees to let him come live with you...to put is short and sweet...no.

He is a minor and his parent(s) are responsible for him until he reaches 18 or he is declared an adult in a court of law. (To be declared an adult he has to be able to provide 100% of his own support - like the rock stars -- but for average kids it never happens) Just to complicate things more, if a court appoints a guardian for him (if he is unable to manage his own affairs) then he will be treated as a child after he reaches the age of 18.

I am a parent of a teen-ager so I admit up front that what I am about to say is one-sided...all kids want to escape their parents -- it is a normal transition as each of us moves toward adulthood. I'm old but believe me -- being a teen-ager is horrible and usually painful.

If he is in danger, I recommend that he go to the school counselor or his doctor, etc. and report his feelings. If things are so intolerable that he cannot survive another day, I recommend he contact children's protective services or go to the local police station and beg & plead for help.

To summarize, if he cannot stand his situation one more second then he needs to "scream" to everyone and anyone he sees that he needs help NOW & not stop until someone helps him. He needs to make someone listen to him since adults tend to ignore 16 year olds complaining about their parents.

I used to work with an agency in Houston that helped kids living on the streets and, believe me, he does not want to be a runaway or try to live on the streets. No matter how bad it is at home, the streets are worst!

Encourage him to go to his minister, doctor, teacher, policeman --- any adult and beg, plead, insist, etc. on help IMMEDIATELY.

Your friend needs someone to listen to him and the most important thing you can do for him is listen and encourage him to try to tolerate his mother.

Bless you for your caring and concern.

Best of luck to you .