Will kissing a 17 year old girl get me in legal trouble?
I'm very interested in a girl who's a few months short of 18. If i do act on my feelings (obviously won't have sex), will I get in trouble?
3 attorney answers
You may not have sexual intercourse (legally defined to include oral & anal) with anyone under the age of 18 years old. You may kiss a 17 year old, so long as it is consensual. I guess that you inquiry sort of begs the question "How old are YOU?" If you are far older than the 17 year old, then many people may find the relationship objectionable (her parents, her classmates, her teachers). You may want to be very careful how you go about this. You can always let this young person know how you feel about him or her, but it might be better to wait on dating until the 18th birthday.
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If there's a significant age difference (i.e. more than a couple years at that age), you should probably ask mature friends and family who you trust and/or a counselor about why you are hanging out with/interested in someone that age and take their advice. Legally there is nothing wrong about consensual kissing with a 17-year old. Kissing leads to more, though, sometimes pretty quickly, and if you're a different age than she is by a bit, you already might have substantial impulse control and judgment issues you should be working on before you take a chance of putting yourself in criminal jeopardy and putting her and your futures at risk (in terms of pregnancy.)
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Legal trouble from kissing (on the lips)? No. Legal trouble from what someone may say happened, yes. I would say, be interested, but from a safe distance. Try holding hands.
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Concise and accurate information by Attorney Kenyon. Heed his advice.
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I'm 21. I know sex is illegal and would obviously wait until she is of age.
Stephen Walter Sawyer
Yes, waiting might be the smart thing to do, but you can always ask her for a date on her 18th birthday well in advance so that she knows you are interested. But the direct answer to your question about kissing is, no, it is not illegal.
Nick Passe
Walk away. You need to grow up and so does she. A 3 or 4 year age difference might not be a big deal once you are both 30 or more but that's a pretty big maturity and life experience difference when you're so young. It's not illegal to kiss her, no, but you're 21 and wanting a 17 year-old - you probably have maturity and impulse control issues which could make stopping at kissing awfully hard. Ask mature people you trust if what you're thinking of, dating a 17-year old, is smart or appropriate and take their advice to heart.
Charles K. Kenyon Jr.
I tend to agree with Atty. Passe on this. I've had clients criminally charged when they did nothing illegal because a 17-year old was mad and lied about it. Those lie can't be taken back easily in a criminal charge context and just having the charge, even if dismissed, can mark you for life.