I think they should ask first. If the child is not of an age to decide, they COULD have legal rights to it. But they should pay it back when things get better.

Sometimes parents will have to do whatever then need to to pay the bills. Who puts them money there in the first place? I can't imagine any parent who would be thrilled at the prospect of taking money from their kids and it should be repaid as soon as possible. Of course, if the child is older and is saving his/her own money from a job or allowance the parent should ask permission.

it depends if the money problem will efect you!

As long as they put it there in the first place it's theirs to do with as they see fit. If it has been placed there by someone else it would be a different matter. I don't think a parent who starts a savings account for their child is the type of parent to remove the money without a good reason.

I think it is terrible. I know someone that had their parents take over $16,000 from their bank account without their permission and 20 years later have yet to pay him back. Almost ALL the money was from earning it from small babysitting jobs as a kid and mowing grass to jobs in Highschool. That is not right.

I'm with "Wil" and "Lil" ... if the parents put it there in the 1st place, I see nothing wrong with it. But, like "Fun" said, if the money was earned and belongs to the child, the parents should definitely ask to BORROW the money! I would hope that, as long as both parents are working hard and trying their best, that maybe the child (if old enough), might loan the parents the money to "help-out" in the hard times. Believe me, (being someone who has been thru some very bad financial times), there is nothing quite like one of your children (19 years old, at the time), coming to you and saying "I want to buy the groceries this week"! It makes you very proud!

I don't think that anyone ever has the right to "take" something that does not belong to them. If parents have set up savings accounts and purchased savings bonds in their children's names, then, guess what, that money belongs to their children -- if that wasn't true, then why bother setting it up for your kids to begin with? Once you give something to someone else it is no longer yours. I think it is a crying shame to think that it is justifiable to take money from your children. Does it make it O.K. to take it because they are too young to protect what belongs to them? Or because you are their parents? If that is the case, then at what age do you draw the line? Would you want your parent taking your money because they gave it to you? Or because they are older than you? Would you like it if someone took your money without asking and never paid it back? What about the money and savings bonds that were given to your children as gifts from reltatives? Is it O.K. to take that money, too? Do you want to teach your kids that it is O.K. to take what isn't theirs? Which is, by definition, STEALING!! If financial times are tough and there is no other option, then BORROW the money from your kids AND PAY IT BACK!!!! Treat your children with respect and do the right thing!!! For goodness sakes, DON'T STEAL FROM YOUR KIDS!!

fair trade. haven't the parents been providing for the child all it's life? heck, didn't they give the child life itself? let the parents have it, the child has his whole life to support himself

I think it is complete bs if it wasn't given by the parent because my mom has taken over $350 dollars from me without consulting me at all, and in all honesty, I think it is stealing.

We do what we have to do to survive. If it is really that dire, go for it or your kids are going to suffer a long time before that money ever does them any good. Try and put it back in the future. What can you do? The parents job is to raise the kids and keep them clean, safe and warm if they have no house then what?