Parents and Your Wages

Can my parents take my earnings?

In Maryland, your parents may be allowed to take control of the money you earn if you are under 18.

Today this does not come up very often.  However, there is a case from 1943 where the judge decided that because your parents are your caretakers and guardian, a parent has the right to a child's income.

This is true unless the parents abandon, neglect or are cruel to the child. However, the courts emphasize that each situation must be looked at individually. Lucas V. Maryland Drydock Co., 182 Md. 54,31 A. 2d 637 (1943).

There have been no court cases that have looked at this issue.  Today a court might decide differently in your situation.  There may be ways to deal with this.  Ask an attorney.