What Can You Do When You Turn 17? 15 Legal and Important Things

Turning 17 can be a little underwhelming because you still feel very much like you’re still considered a child by your parents and society. And so you may feel like there aren’t things that you can do when you turn 17. This article will give you a helpful list of things you can do when you turn 17.

You will also like the following related articles

• Things you can do when you turn 16
• 17 Things You Can Do When You Turn 20
• Things To Do When You Turn 21

What Changes When You Turn 17?

There is only one major change that is significant in turning 17. And that is that you’re a year away from being a full adult under U.S law, although with some limitations. Our article on 25 Things To Do When You Turn 18 explains all that happens when you turn 18 and what your legal rights are, as well as the fun things you can do, so be sure to check it out.

Apart from this one major point, nothing changes so much when you turn 17. You are still a minor in the sight of the law, and still very much under the control of your parents. This doesn’t mean however that there aren’t fun and important things that you can do when you turn 17, nor does it mean that you should suddenly become irresponsible.

Remember that if you want to be taken seriously and treated as an adult sooner rather than later, now is a good time to start acting like it so that no one even remembers anymore that you are 17.

What Rights Do You Have At 17 and What Can You Legally Do At 17? Things You Can Legally Do At 17 In The U.S and Legal Rights At 17.

The reality is that as a 17-year-old, you are still legally a minor, and there isn’t much you have in terms of rights and privileges. Parental consent remains vital to making key and important decisions about your life. You will need to wait until you hit the famous 18.

There are however very few rights you will have in some States. According to Bustle, you have at least 5 legal rights in most States, though not all, and there are very few things you can legally do at 17, and these are:

1. The right to be treated for an std without the knowledge of your parents.

So you don’t need to be scared if you need to go to the hospital to be treated for an STD, but be sure that this right applies in your State.

And even if it doesn’t, don’t let it deter you from getting the needed treatment(s) because STDs when left unattended can affect your fertility and sterility as an adult and you certainly do not want that.

2. The right to register as an organ donor.

This is pretty cool, especially if you are inclined to make an organ donation to a loved one. Check your local hospital(s) for what you need to satisfy to donate.

3. It turns out you can also get your own international passport without your parents being present.

How exciting. You can begin to prepare for your travel as you turn 18. If you choose to get a passport without your parents, be prepared to part with more than $100 which is what it will cost you to pay for your passport yourself without the help of your parents.

4. You can also donate blood without your parents’ consent.

This is also another cool thing the law permits you to do. It is however not advisable to take a very critical decision such as donating blood, without at least letting your parents know.

5. You can also receive confidential counseling for a drug or alcohol-related problem and not worry too much about your parents’ involvement.

This is also very encouraging. You don’t have to suffer in silence or feel constrained to seek help if you need it. But you must remember that all ethical rules that apply to counseling will still apply. And one such rule is that if your counselor sees that you will be a danger to yourself or will hurt yourself or others, they have a legal duty to protect you from yourself by taking appropriate steps in the right direction.

These facts should not deter you from seeking counseling and help where you need it because counseling goes a long way with helping maintain good mental health.

6. You can also drive at 17.

How exciting right? At least you can take mum and dad’s car and make a quick dash to the mall or your best friend’s house, but be careful not to damage their car or they’ll get very upset. Also, if you cannot drive, don’t put yourself and other motorists and pedestrians at risk by getting behind a wheel.

7. You can also get a motorbike license in some states.

How nice! Get that motorbike license if your State allows for it.

8. And in some states, you can have consensual sex.

Sounds exciting, doesn’t it. But remember to take the necessary precautions by practicing safe and protected sex if your State is one of such States that allows for consensual sex at 17. STDs are real and affect any sexually active person including a 17 year old. Not to mention the fact that you can also fall pregnant at 17.

Remember that these rights are State specific. We are not lawyers and cannot give you the finer details of how these laws work or what they entail, and it will be important and best to seek expert legal advice before acting on any of these points. You can also check out the linked Bustle article for a more detailed explanation of each right.

What Can You Do When You’re 17? List Of Important Things You Can Do When You Turn 17.

With 18 just a year away, being 17 is a good time to start preparing for your grand entrance into adulthood. Even though you don’t have many rights and privileges at 17, there are still some important things that you can do when you turn 17 to help you prepare for turning 18, and generally, give you a great and exciting life at 17. These 7 important things are:

9. Take care of your mental health.

A rather unsettling survey by SAMHSA in 2017 found that in the age group of 12 – 17 year olds, those who were 17 had the highest incidence of depression.