Family issues

[ccsmod7]

Thanks for reaching out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you want to know what could happen if you leave home for a short time without your mom’s permission. We want you to be safe.

We’re not legal experts here at the NRS, but can give you some general information. Laws can vary from state to state, if we know more about your situation was can be more specific. In most states, if you’re under the age of 18, you are under your parent’s responsibility. If you leave home without your parent’s permission, they can file a runaway report with the police. The police response can vary, especially as you get closer to 18. The best way to find out how they might respond is to call the local non-emergency police number and ask. The call can be made confidentially, and we can help if you call us.
If you’re having a difficult time with your mom, and want to stay with a friend or family member to get away for a night, there may be other options. One option might be to think through good approaches to ask your mom for permission.

Every situation is different. If you call us here at the NRS on our 24/7 safeline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929), or chat with us through our website during chat hours, we can listen help you sort through your options. We’ll look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best of luck,

NRS

If I needed to stay somewhere else for the night just to get away from my mom during a fight and I was 16, would she be able to call the police on me to come home or am I legally allowed to leave without her permission? It would only be for one night.