Asked 4/11/2016 – Conroe, TX

I am 17 years old and my boyfriend is 22. My parents don’t know we are dating because they would have an issue with it. My stepdad is a sheriff at a police department and is extremely intelligent about what’s legal and what’s not.

Answer

It is NOT illegal for an 17 year old to date a 22 year old. You are subject to your parents authority, however, until you turn 18, so what they say goes, at least until then: longer if you remain a dependent, reside in their home or become a college student on their dime.