Legal Definitions - throwaway

The term "throwaway" refers to a minor child who is still legally dependent on their parents or guardians (meaning they are not legally emancipated) and finds themselves without a home under one of two circumstances:

• Their parent or legal caregiver has forced them to leave their home.
• They have run away from home, but their parent or legal caregiver subsequently refuses to allow them to return.

In essence, a "throwaway" minor is a child whose parents or guardians have effectively abandoned them, leaving them without a legal place of residence or parental support.

Examples:

• Example 1: Forced Departure

  After a heated argument, a 16-year-old named Alex is told by his father to pack his bags and leave the house, with his father stating he is no longer welcome to live there. Alex, being an unemancipated minor, has no other legal residence and is now without parental support.

  This illustrates a "throwaway" because Alex, a minor, was directly forced to leave his home by a parent, leaving him without a legal place to live or the care of his guardian.

• Example 2: Refusal of Re-entry

  Maria, a 14-year-old, runs away from her guardian's home after a disagreement. A few days later, she contacts her guardian, expressing a desire to return. However, her guardian explicitly tells Maria that she is not allowed back and must find somewhere else to stay.

  This demonstrates the "throwaway" concept as Maria, an unemancipated minor, initially ran away, but her guardian's subsequent refusal to allow her to return home places her in the vulnerable position of being without a legal residence or parental care.