Dear Ann Landers,
This is in response to "Greensboro, N.C.," whose 17-year-old son left home after refusing to get a job or go to school. Those parents should check with a legal expert to find out if they are responsible for the boy's expenses. I have friends who were presented with huge bills run up by their minor child who no longer lived at home. These parents found themselves responsible for trashed living quarters, wrecked cars and expensive clothing -- and they didn't even know where the kid was living. Parents in this position need to be assured of legal protection no matter how much they love the child or hope he will come home. If their minor child has moved out, they should see a lawyer before things get more complicated. They could be liable for a bundle. -- Been Down That Road in Holland, Mich.

Dear Holland,
Excellent advice to those parents. I hope they see this and pay attention. I also hope the boy you wrote about agrees to move back home and get some counseling before he ends up in serious trouble.