Money
Parents have a legal duty to support their children financially. This means they are expected to pay what they can to your upkeep. If you go on to college or university, your parents are liable to pay for your education up to the age of 25, if they have enough money. If a parent, or step-parent, refuses to pay for your education, it is possible that you may be able to claim financial support, known as 'aliment' or 'maintenance' through the courts or Child Support Agency. You can make your own claim to the CSA at the age of 12 in Scotland. You should get legal advice about your rights from a solicitor (for more information click on "Solicitors" on the right-hand side of this page).
If you are over 16 but under 18, you can only claim some benefits if you need special help, for instance, you are pregnant, disabled, or a student. If you are 18 or over you can claim the full range of state benefits. Your local Citizens Advice Bureau will help you with these and for more information visit the Citizens Advice Scotland website: www.cas.org.uk
You can have your own bank account from the age of 7 but accounts for younger people are often opened in the name of one of their parents with the money being held in trust until they are older.
You can set up your own business and register a company in your own name when you are 16. A solicitor can advise you about this.
