Abusive home, want to run away

[Unregistered]

My girlfriend is 19 and she is in a very abusive home environment. I am 20 and she is 19, if i take her from her home and she stays with me in my apartment can I be charged with a crime? She is over the age of 18. In the state of Ohio

[ccsmod0]

re: Abusive home, want to run away

Hi there,

Thanks for posting here today and sharing a bit of what you’re going through. It sounds like your girlfriend is in an unsafe situation and the both of you are trying to figure out how she can stay safe. She’s lucky to have someone that she can count on. We’re here to support the both of you. So let’s see how we can help you out.

We aren’t legal experts, but we are able to speak generally. Because she is over the age of 18, she has legal responsibility for herself. That means she has the right to decide where she wants to live. If she wants to move out, then she is able to do that without her parents being able to make her go back home or without you getting in trouble with the law. You cannot be charged with a crime if she chooses to live with you.

There would be no legal consequences of her moving out, but there might be other consequences – like her parents not allowing her to come back home or her parents ending any financial support they may be providing for her. If she decides to leave, thinking through how she would be able to support herself can be a good next step for the both of you. It can also be important for her to make sure that she has her identification documents with her if she leaves (birth certificate, social security card, driver’s license, stuff like that).

We hope that this is helpful. If you’d like to talk more please call us 24 hours a day or chat with us through our website (www.1800runaway.org) from 4.30pm-11.30pm central time.

We look forward to your call or chat.

Best of luck to you,

NRS