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This information applies to Scotland
Adoption
If you are under the age of 18 you can be adopted.if you are not married or in a registered civil partnership. If you are 12 or over you must agree to the adoption and in all cases the court must take account of what is in your best interests.
Adoptions are arranged by the local authority or through a registered adoption society, and have to be agreed in court at which point an adoption order is granted. Full parental responsibilities and rights pass to the adoptive parents and the birth parents cease to have rights. In some cases a step-parent may apply alone to adopt a child of their spouse.
If you know that you are adopted and you want to find out who your birth parents are, you have a right to see your birth records when you reach the age of 16. You can apply to the Registrar for births, marriages and deaths who will provide the names of one or both of your birth parents but only after counselling has been offered.
For more information about adoption, see Adopting a child in Family factsheets.
The General Register Office
New Register House
West Register Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3YT
Tel: 0131 314 0380
Fax: 0131 314 4400
Website: www.gro-scotland.gov.uk
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Changing your name
In Scotland, you can use a different name for yourself at any time. However, if you are under 16 you will need parental consent to be able to officially record a change of name.
For more information, see Change of name.
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Civil partnership
If you are aged 16 or over and in a gay or lesbian relationship you can register your relationship to become civil partners. You can do this without parental consent.
As civil partners you will have many of the same rights and responsibilities towards each other as married partners have.
For more information on civil partnerships, see Registering a civil partnership.
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Local authority care
If you are in need you and/or your family may be offered services or accommodation by the local authority. In some cases you and your family may agree that it would be best if the local authority looked after you for a period. In other cases the local authority may be sufficiently concerned about your health, safety and welfare that compulsory measures are taken to protect you.
You should always be kept informed about what is happening if you are old enough to understand. Every effort should be made by both the local authority and any court or children’s hearings to let you give your view of the situation if you want to.
For more information, see Children in need: local authority services and Children in need: being looked after by the local authority.
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Marriage
If you are aged 16 or over you can marry without parental consent.
If you are under 16 and you go through a marriage ceremony in Scotland, the marriage will be void. If you now live in Scotland but you got married by agreement in a country where there is a lower age limit, the marriage will be recognised as valid in Scotland.
For more information on marriage, see Getting married.
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Parents under 16
Mothers under 16
If you are under 16 and have a baby, you have the same legal rights and responsibilities towards the child as any mother.
Benefits and tax credits
If you live with your parents and they are claiming Child Tax Credit both you and your child can be included in the claim. Your parents may also be able to claim a Social Fund Maternity Grant for you and your child. If they are claiming Housing Benefit, they can include both you and your child in their claim.
As a young mother, you can claim Child Benefit once your baby is born.
For information on Housing Benefit, see Help with your rent – Housing Benefit.
Benefit claims in these circumstances can be complicated and you or your parents should consult an experienced adviser for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.
Vouchers for free milk, fruit and vegetables
If you are at least ten weeks pregnant, your parents can get vouchers for free milk, frruit and vegetables for you. It doesn't matter what their income is.
Once you've had the baby, your parents can continue to get vouchers for you only if they get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Child Tax Credit and have an annual income below a certain amount.
For more information on benefits for maternity and children, see Benefits for families and children.
Education
Local education authorities have a duty to ensure that all children under 16 receive an education. If you become a mother, this duty remains.
For more information, see Problems at school.
Housing
As a young mother you will normally be unable to obtain privately rented or council accommodation because you are too young to be granted a tenancy. However, you can contact the local authority social work department and ask it to find you accommodation, as long as your parents agree.
For more information, see Children in need: local authority services.
If you have housing problems, you should consult an experienced adviser for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.
Maintenance
As a young mother, you can apply to the Child Support Agency for a maintenance assessment to be carried out in respect of your child. This applies if you are not living with the father of your child.
For more information, see Child support for parents who live apart, or visit the CSA website at www.csa.gov.uk.
Fathers under 16
As a father aged under 16, you have no automatic parental responsibilities and rights. However, if you jointly register the birth of your child with the child's mother on or after 4 May 2006, you will automatically acquire full parental responsibilities and rights which you will share with the child's mother. Alternatively, if the mother agrees, you can make a parental responsibilities agreement with her before you are 16 but you may not be able to enforce any rights until you are 16.
If as a young father you need to seek advice about applying for a parental responsibility agreement, you should consult an experienced adviser for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.
Maintenance
If you are aged under 16 and you father a child, the Child Support Agency can expect you to pay maintenance. Once the Agency is satisfied that you are the father, you will be expected to make maintenance payments when you begin earning or receiving a benefit.
For more information, see Child support for parents who live apart, or visit the CSA website at www.csa.gov.uk.
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Wills and inheritance
If you are 12 or over you can make a legally valid will but you have to be 16 before you can act as an executor or trustee for the estate of a person who has died.
If you parents are not married you have the same rights as other children to inherit from both parents and their extended families. You cannot however inherit "titles" or "coats of arms".
For more information, see What to do after a death in Scotland.
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Further help
Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People
85 Holyrood Road
Edinburgh
EH8 8AU
Tel: 0131 558 3733
Fax: 0131 556 3378
Email: info@sccyp.org.uk
Website: www.sccyp.org.uk
Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young people promotes and safeguards the rights of children and young people living in Scotland.
Scottish Child Law Centre
54 East Crosscauseway
Edinburgh
EH8 9HD
Tel: 0131 667 6333
Freephone (for under 18's) 0800 328 8970
Fax: 0131 662 1713
Email: enquiries@sclc.org.uk
Website: sclc.org.uk
The Scottish Child Law Centre promotes awareness about children's rights and provides legal advice.
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Further information for young people
For information about the general rights of children and young people, see Young people's rights.
For information about housing, see Young people and housing.
For information about employment, see Young people and employment.
For information about money and consumer rights, see Young people - money and consumer rights.
For information about benefits, see Young people and benefits.
For information about health and personal issues, see Young people - health and personal.
For information about the law and young people, see Young people and the law.
For information about transport, see Young people - travel and transport.
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