Moving out at 17.. (Alabama)

[ccsmod0]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
The easiest way to leave home is with your parents' permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your parents. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). If you would like to look into further emotional support options, you can text with a crisis worker at the National Alliance on Mental Illness 24/7 by texting "NAMI" to 741741.
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Be safe,
NRS

hi i am 17. I dont turn 18 until 7 months and i don’t want to live in this house anymore. its physically and mentally draining. my grades could be much more better but i feel so mentally tired. I get mentally abused causing me to feel so low of myself. Id rather much live with a friend where it feels more at home. the house conditions is bad here and I really can’t take it anymore. can i leave or will i be taken to jail ?

[ccsmod7]

Hello there, it looks like you left 2 similar posts today. Please see the comment under the #16 post.

Thank you and best of luck,

NRS

[ccsmod7]

Thank you for reaching out to us. It is good that you are concerned about the consequences of your potential actions.

We are not legal experts hear and the laws vary from state to state. We do show that the age of majority (when one is considered legally an adult) in Alabama is 19. The option of emancipation is available once you turn 18. Crossing state lines can also cause some legal problems, too, which can vary also from state to state. Has your mother filed a runaway report on you since you are not at home? Since you have already left home would she give you permission to leave? If your mother doesn’t file a report it would remove the problem for you.

We are glad you gave us a call. It can be difficult to ask others for help. You are trying to figure out your options which is a good thing. If you would like to discuss your situation further, please do not hesitate to call or chat with us. We may be able to determine more resources for you to draw from.

We’re here to listen, here to help.

Best of luck,

NRS

I'm 17 with 2 kids and I don't love at home but if I move out of state without telling them could they do anything

I'm 17 with two kids does that make me an adult? And would I be able to move out if my mother made me get fired by taking my car. But at the same time I've already moved out so would she be able to do anything if I move to a different state?

[ccsmod7]

Hey there!

Thank you so much for contacting us at National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are having a rough time at home. We’re sorry that your parents forced you to quit your job. Losing that kind of independence can be tough.

You wrote to us inquiring about runaway laws. We are not legal experts here at NRS, but typically you need to be 18 to legally move out of your parents’ house. It sounds like you received a lot information from your former manager, but just in case we’ll tell you generally about runaway laws. As we told you, 18 is the typical age that is recognized as the legal age of adulthood. If you runaway as a minor before then your parents will be able to file a runaway report with the police. If you are found, they will bring you back to your parents/legal guardians. Running is not illegal but you may incur what is called a “status offense.” A status offense will not appear on your permanent record, but the juvenile court may be involved with your case. The other thing you will need to know about is “harboring a runaway.” If you runaway to stay with an adult, be they your friend (18+) or a friend and their parents, they may be charged with harboring a runaway. This is a serious misdemeanor.

But there is hope! While the typical age is 18, runaway laws differ from state-to-state, county-to-county. Your former manager might be right in telling you that you may be able to move out of your parents’ place at 17. In some states and counties they will not take runaway reports for 17-year-olds. Your state/county might be one of those. It sounds like your former manager is familiar with those laws. However, he is retired and the laws may have changed since then. It might be good to call up your local police to find out what the current laws are.

If you do decide to run away, it might be good to also make a plan. Where will you go? Who will you stay with? How will you support yourself? Etc. If you need someone to discuss or plan these things out with you, you can always give us a call. We would love to help you out with your plans and find resources for you if we can. You can also call us if you need to vent about life with your parents. Our phone number is 1-800-RUNAWAY.

We wish you the best and always remember that we’re here to support you 24/7, 365 days a year.

NRS

This forums are stupid if you refuse to answer real questions. For all of you reading. legal adult age in Alabama is 19, not 18. So yes your parents can get the police to get you within the State of AL till you are 19. However if you leave the state thats another story.

[ccsmod15]

Re: Moving out at 17.. (Alabama)

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like things might be difficult at home right now. Home should be a place where you feel safe and loved. We are here to help you explore your options.

You shared that you have plans to leave home after graduation at the age of 18 and have some concerns about runaway reports. While we are not legal experts, generally speaking as long as you are still considered a minor in your home state (have not yet reached aged of majority) your parents have the right to file a runaway report if you leave home without their permission. This means if the police were to find you, they could make you return home.

Some other options you could consider could be seeing if there is any other family member or close friend that you could stay with for a while, with your parent’s permission. We could also help you look up youth shelters or alternative living arrangements (ALAs) in your area. You have several options available to you.

If you have further legal questions, we can assist you in looking up legal resources in your town. Another good resource is online at https://sexetc.org/action-center/sex-in-the-states/ that has answers to many questions about similar things concerning minors.

If you would like further help exploring any of these options or others in more detail, please feel free to reach out to us directly by calling us at 1-800- RUNAWAY or chatting with us live on our website at www.1800.runaway.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

Take care,
NRS

Re: Moving out at 17.. (Alabama)

The age of majority in Alabama is 19, but if I graduate high school at 18 and want to leave the state, could my parents file me as a runaway if I move to a state and become a citizen where the age of majority is 18?

[ccsmod0]

Re: Moving out at 17.. (Alabama)

Hello,
Thank you for contacting us here at the National Runaway Safeline.
It sounds like you are questioning if you will be able to move out at the age of 18 in Alabama. This is really good question that we are glad that you asked. We would like you to know that we are not legal experts but to our knowledge the age of majority in Alabama is 19. This means that if you were to move out before this age that it would be considered running away.
We are not legal experts nor are we affiliated with the police so we can only speak generally about what could happen if a youth leaves home without the consent of a guardian. You can find out more about how runaway’s reports are carried out by contacting your local police department. If you would like we could contact your local non-emergency number for you or with you. Just give us a call and one of our trained liners would be happy to assist you. 1-800-RUNAWAY

18 but not graduated: minor or adult?

Can you move out if you are 18 yet still haven't graduated high school yet in the state of Alabama? Can someone please let me know.

[ccsmod16]

re: moving out

Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are interested in leaving home and looking to find out if you can do so at the age of 17.

We aren’t legal experts, so we can’t offer legal advice, but we can provide some general information for you. In Alabama the age of majority is 19, so you would legally be considered a minor until you turn 19. What this means is that if you run away from home and your parents filed a runaway report, the police could make you return home. Since you are a minor, it would be a status offense, not a criminal offense, so you would not be arrested and it would not go on a criminal record. However, if a runaway report is filed, it’s possible that anyone you stay with could be charged with harboring a runaway. Again, we are not legal experts, and these cases are handled differently in every city.

One way to see how this type of situation is handled in your city would be to call your local police department and ask them about it- you wouldn’t have to give them any identifying information.

Some things to consider if you do plan to leave home include how you will support yourself and how you will stay safe. If you haven’t done so already, you could also think about talking to a friend, relative, teacher, or counselor about what’s going on at home and how you feel that your dad is being too controlling. We are also happy to talk through this with you and discuss other options, such as counseling or an alternative living arrangement.

We are here to listen and help 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

NRS

moving out

Can I move out at 17 about to be 18 my dad is to controlling and I have a place to go can I go now

[ccsmod4]

Moving out at 17.. (Alabama)

Hello,
Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.

We are not sure what happened but it seems like you were not able to finish your train of thought.
We would like to be of help if we can so maybe you can call in to ask your question or repost a finished one.
You should know that we are not legal experts and at best can only give a generalization of something pertaining to something that is of a legal matter.
We can however try and locate legal services in your area as another option to try. Does that make sense?

You can reach NRS at 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) 24hrs or www.1800Runaway.org (live chat).

We hope to hear from you.

Take Care,
NRS