15 year old girl in Texas about to run away

[Unregistered]

I've had enough of my parents and I have many people who would take me in and show me love and a real life. When I follow this plan what can the law do to me? What can my parents do to me if I'm gone? Can I still go to school once I'm out of the house and with someone else? Please help.

[ccsmod10]

RE: 15 year old girl in Texas about to run away

Hello!

Thank you for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline and sharing a bit of your story with us. It sounds like you feel that your parents aren’t giving you the love and support one expects to get at home, and that it’s not the right place for you anymore. You said that you know of other places you could go and find that support –that’s good, because it means that you’re thinking carefully about where you would go next and how to ensure your safety. You’re also considering what the consequences of your actions could be, which speaks well of your maturity level.

While we’re not legal experts here at NRS, we can speak broadly in terms of your question about potential ramifications and your rights. Running away is typically considered a status offense – similar to getting caught smoking under age. However, if you are staying with someone else without your parents giving consent, there can be serious legal consequences for that adult, such as harboring a runaway charges. It’s important to know that in advance, and to discuss it with anyone with whom you’re considering staying.
If you were found by law enforcement after running away, typically the goal is family reunification, but that can vary from state to state and even department to department – one way to find out how your local police force would handle such a situation could be to call and ask questions anonymously.

If you would like more information about your rights, we have a database of legal resources that we can put you in touch with. Regarding school, it likely depends on the situation – one way to find out may be to talk to your school counselor and see how a change in residence and/or legal guardianship could impact how/where you receive schooling.
If you would like to explore more of your options or would like some legal referrals, we’d be happy to help – you can reach us via evening chat service, online or via phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY 24 hours a day. We hope this information is helpful to you.

Best of luck, and we hope to hear from you soon.
NRS