<p>We're not talking about custody, we're talking about termination of parental rights (according to the OP). That's more serious and more rare. Having said that, I agree that this really should be the OP's decision, but one that he should go into with open eyes.</p>
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In the current state of child custody decisions, the mother almost always is automatically given full parental rights and if the father wants custody, he must sue for it. Child custody is heavily biased against fathers.
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<p>Not in my state. The courts assume 50/50, and if you want something other than that, you've got to work at it. (Easy enough to do for many, as a lot of parents -- often fathers, but sometimes mothers -- aren't interested in raising their offspring.)</p>
<p>And yes, termination of parental rights is pretty rare.</p>
<p>"More importantly, they can refuse to sign parental consent forms, which will probably be a big administrative problem for the college and lead to the college not accepting your registration."</p>
<p>Yes, this may happen. Given the circumstances and how much the college wants you, they should be willing to hold your space and scholarship.</p>
<p>One of my former college students parents did what yours are doing. Fortunately, he turned 18 the summer after his senior year, so let the college (which was giving him a full ride) know his situation, and the college held his scholarship until he could sign for it.</p>
<p>His parents were so adamant that he not go to that college that they literally stopped speaking to him after he told him he was going. They also refused to drive him to the college.</p>
<p>His mother said, "You'll never meet the movers and shakers of the world there."</p>
<p>In the college, the student got to personally meet the U.S. president twice, and was even on TV sitting in the front row in a White House press conference. Some of his relatives even saw him on TV.</p>
<p>Well before graduation, his parents had reconciled with him. They even threw him a graduation party and his father publicly apologized for trying to block his son's attending the college.</p>
<p>My former student got an excellent, high paying job after graduation. The job included his getting to work in NYC, Chicago, and London.</p>
<p>There's a lot to this story we're not getting, and it seems unlikely the OP is posting about these things with legal precision. I reiterate that he should figure out how to consult an experienced local family lawyer about this. It's hard to imagine circumstances in which a competent 17-year-old with competent advice couldn't get his way on going to college with no financial assistance needed from his parent. I am pretty confident the OP can be successful. But not on the basis of internet advice.</p>
<p>True. The OP should have been appointed counsel of his own during the termination proceedings...that's probably a good place to start, at least for a copy of the file.</p>
<p>The parent can refuse to pay the bills. Unless this student has access to his/her own funds to pay for the college costs, I would say they will not be attending school if the parents do not contribute.</p>
<p>I am sorry, confusedkid09, and wish you the best of luck!</p>
<p>Several random things: In California there is an "out" called an emancipated minor. This has been used famously for young actors who want out of parental supervisioon, but there is a real rationale behind it. The assertion that you made that your parents would make you stay home and work for them for free is troubling. Whether or not they would actually do such a thing is questionable, but if so there are attorneys who specialize in representing children who need help pro bono. What school is this? Not the name, but as to the question why pick a school so close to an estranged parents...if the school is, for example, Harvard, Stanford, Yale and that ilk...sure the selection is obvious. But, if it is North Dakota Western Upstate....sorry, tried to be very remote...than there may be ulterior motives. Those motives may not be bad (trying to get to know your dad), but depending on why he lost custody (we live in a joint custudy state where it is almost impossible not to have half cutody), you might want to be very viligent.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>