I want to move out at 16 in Alabama

[Guest]

I want to move out at 16, with my parents permission. I don’t know if they would let me, but I want to know if it would be legal to move out at 16 with parental consent? I want to get out of Alabama- I want to go live with my partner in Illinois. But I don’t know if I would be able to. I don’t know if I can wait until 18. I need to get out of this house

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at NRS. While we are not legal experts, we can speak generally on this. It is legal to move out with parental consent as long as you are staying somewhere that is safe. Your parents are legally responsible for you until you turn 18 which also means they can give you permission to live separately. We understand that having this conversation with parents can be difficult and maybe there is a family member or other trusted adult who can help you communicate your needs to your parents.

Now, there could be consequences if you decided to leave without permission from your parents. In the event your parents do not give their consent for you to move out, they can report you as a runaway to the police. Running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. This basically means they can ask police for assistance with returning you home if they know where you are staying.

We truly want to be a support for you as you decide on your next steps. We are available 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out again by phone or chat if you would like to talk more in-depth about your situation and explore your options. You can contact us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org.

Stay strong,
NRS