Children and the Law in Texas: What Parents Should Know

by Ramona Freeman John

Book Overview

Can a girl get an abortion in Texas without her parent's consent? Are parents liable for damages when their teenager crashes the family car into a neighbor's Mercedes? What happens when grandparents... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0292740514
• ISBN13: 9780292740518
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: University of Texas Press
• Length: 293 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Invaluable!

I found Ramona John's book informative and invaluable. It is a handy reference for anyone contemplating divorce or concerned about custody, abuse, or parental rights since it covers all aspects of problems likely to be encountered. Concisely and clearly, she explains, among other things, parental rights and duties, getting an attorney for your child, what to expect in a courtroom, how to make a favorable impression on a judge or jury, how paternity is established, adoption is decided, when parental rights can be terminated, and when abuse can be suspected. Disabled children and their special needs are also considered. Although it is written for Texans, I believe this information is probably applicable nationwide. Adults can gain insights and find understanding about themselves in the section covering the effects of abandonment and neglect. I highly recommend this book to anyone faced with the predicament of divorce or concerned with abuse of a child.

The nightmares of every parent are dealt with in this book.

Lucky is the parent who can raise a child in today's world without at least one brush with the law. Even if your child never commits a crime, with two out of three marriages ending in divorce, there are issues of custody and child support that must be legally resolved. What if your child runs away from home or is caught dealing drugs? What if you are deemed an abusive or negligent parent and the law steps in to remove your child from the home? When your child is in trouble, wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to talk to a personal friend who just happens to be a retired juvenile court judge? Not many of us have a friend like that, but the next best thing is Ramona John's book "Children and the Law in Texas -- What Parents Should Know." In a non-threatening, conversational tone, John helps the reader understand the nuances of the juvenile justice system. "Get comfortable, this will take a while," she advises before answering a particularly knotty question on paternity. Personal observations and anecdotes are a helpful reminder that even judges are human. Some, like John, are warm and human. The question-and-answer format makes it easy for parents to concentrate on the subject matter even when they may be under stress because of their child's circumstances. The chapter "Keeping Your Child out of Trouble" is worth the price of the book even if you don't live in Texas. Reading it could prevent that dreaded brush with the law that is every parent's nightmare. The best parents may know the guidelines of parental behavior intuitively, but for the rest of us, John's list is a succinct reminder and a starting point for discussion. While good parents teach their children they are responsible for their own acts, that, unfortunately, is not the case where illegal acts by minors are concerned. The question of whether and to what extent parents can be held responsible for their children's acts was thrust into the national conscience by the Columbine school shootings. By giving you an idea of what the law says about parent/child relationships and responsibilities, the book could save you time and money when you need to consult a lawyer. The book will be an eye-opener if you don't know the answers to questions like these: Can a child have more than one presumed biological father? If you face a situation where you must hire an attorney for your child, do you have the right to be present every time your child speaks to the attorney? Do you know the difference between Teen Court and juvenile court? After reading John's book, one can only wish that she could be the designated "explainer" in charge of re-writing the juvenile justice and family codes all over America so they can be understood by ordinary people. After that, she could tackle the federal tax code.