Van Nuys High School

What to do When You Turn 18?

Download a booklet titled "When You Become 18 - A Survival Guide for Teenagers."
Funded by the California Bar Foundation• 2008

This is a sample from the Guide:

Congratulations. At age 18, you’ve reached an important milestone. You are now an adult in the eyes of the law. You can rent your own apartment, take charge of your finances and even buy a car on your own — all without a parent’s consent or assistance. You can now enter into legal contracts and vote in elections. In short, you now have the right to make many important decisions about where you live, what you do and how you shape your future. But adulthood also brings new responsibilities and consequences. Your parents no longer have to support you. You can now be sued personally. You are responsible for paying your own income taxes. If you are a young man, you must register for the military. And if you commit a crime, you will not have the protection of the juvenile court and laws; you could wind up in jail for something that, at a younger age, might have resulted in no more than a stern lecture and a ride home in a police car.

Topics covered:

Reaching the Age of Majority
Getting Around
Moving Out
Having Fun
Alcohol and Drugs
Money Matters
Working and Taxes
Sex and the Law
Doing Your Part
Marriage and Partnerships
Dealing with Domestic Violence
Crimes and Consequences
Guns and Other Weapons
Hate Crimes
Civil Laws and
Lawsuits
Surfing the Internet
Protecting Your Identity
Consumer Protection
Finding Legal Help

Files:

Becoming-18.pdf