17 and wanna runaway!!

[Unregistered]

Im 17 and ill be 18 this September I live in California with my mom and I cant take living here anymore I want to move out with my bf who will be 20 this month we have been dating for 3 1/2 yrs and he lives with us also but my mom has been giving us so many rules and being rude here lately and we cant take it anymore. Is there a law against me moving out of my moms house at my age now and could she call the cops and make me come home?

[ccsmod10]

RE: 17 and wanna runaway!!

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to us. It sounds like you are planning on moving out with your boyfriend. Have you tried talking to your mom about how she has been making you feel? If not, what else do you think you can try? Just to let you know, we are not legal experts. We can explain a little about the runaway laws if you’d like. Technically it’s not against the law for you to leave home without permission before you turn 18. In most states it’s considered a ‘status offence’. However, anyone you would be caught staying with could possibly be charged with ‘harboring a runaway’. Do you have a safe place to go? Or someone willing to take that risk for you? If not, here is a link to a website for safe place shelters in the US. www.nationalsafeplace.org.

Here at the National Runaway Safeline, we cannot tell you what you should or should not do. We can however help you explore safe options for you and your boyfriend, and a solid plan for what to do next. We can be reached at any time at 1-800-RUNAWAY(786-2929) or by live chat at www.1800runaway.org from 4:30pm-11:30pm Central Standard Time. We wish you both the best of luck and hope to hear from you soon.

-NRS