In maine, age 16, leaving home hopefully. Help?

[ccsmod2]

re: Leaving home

Hi,

Thanks for contacting us. It seems like you have some specific questions about what would happen to you if you decide to leave home at 16. Unfortunately we can't answer those because we are not legal experts. There's not really a way to say for sure how the police would handle the situation. You may be able to look into emancipation if your state offers it. Usually the police consider removing youth from homes if there is abuse or if they are aware that the person is in danger. Other than that is can be hard to prove to the police that you are being verbally. We would be happy to talk with you more about what your options could be. If you need further assistance please reach out via call or chat.

NRS

[Guest]

I'm 15 and I just need to leave and I was wondering if I left if my parents could say anything or send the cops to send me away or make me go back home even that I just want to live alone for awhile

[ccsmod8]

Hello there –

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to get into contact with us here at the National Runaway Safeline on our public forum, we are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. Hopefully by supporting you there are other that are reading through this thread that can relate can feel helped as well.

Now like you might have read on our other threads is that we aren’t legal experts, but what generally what typically happens in each state is if you are below the legal age of majority (18 in most states except Alabama and Nebraska [19 or upon marriage], and Mississippi [21]), your parents would be able to make a runaway report in the event that you do run away. Since it’s only considered a statues offense and not a crime to run away, the only thing that would happen is that the police will pick you up and bring you back home.

If you give us a call on our 24/7 hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) we could help you find resources in your area and could potentially help you brainstorm a possible solution to the issues you are having. We would love to talk to you about what has been going on recently. We also have an online chat service available every day.

[Guest]

Hello im a 16 year old male in Maine.


I live with my Mother and my Step - father along with my two siblings.

Im currently a Junior in highschool and going to graduate next year at 17.

My parents want to leave around july-august this year, or july - august of the 2019 year.

I for one will not be moving with them as the desired location is florida and i had bad experiences living there in the past

I have a girlfriend and i dont want to leave her at all

I love my family but im not willing to move back to that state.. what can i do?

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thank you so much for reaching out to us. It sounds like your parents really want to move to Florida, while you really do not. That is really frustrating, and it is totally understandable that you wouldn’t want to leave home. If they left this year, you would still be a minor, and in Maine if you decided to stay without your parent’s permission, you would be considered a runaway. Running away is not illegal, but if you “ran away” and your parents decided to file a runaway report, if the police found you they could force you to go back to your parents. However, with your parents’ permission you could stay where you are, or once you turned 18. It sounds like they are debating pushing back the move until 2019, when you would be a graduate, and likely close to turning 18. If this was the case, you would no longer be considered a minor.
Another option is looking into emancipation. Because you are 16 emancipation is an option. Emancipation basically means that you become your own guardian, so you would be able to choose where to live. To petition for emancipation you would need to prove that you can financially support yourself, which is not an option for everyone. If you think this is possible, we could look into family lawyers in your area to get more information. It is totally okay if this is not an option or is not something you want to pursue. It can be a long process, and can be really frustrating.
If you want to talk about more options, please call us anytime at 1-800-786-2929. We are here 24/7, to listen and to help.
Thanks,
NRS

[Guest]

Leaving home

im 16 and I've been planning to leave home side I was 15 I've always had big arguments with my mum and especially my step dad am very unhappy at home and I want to go live with my boyfriends Mum has offered for me to move in and provide me , my mum is upset that I want to leave but she has agreed and me and my step dad don't get on so I decided i want to go live somewhere else. My boyfriends family are really nice and thus care about me. But they haven't given me when am allowed to come so am just sat here unhappy in my house.

[ccsmod11]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us to help you decide about this situation. It sounds like you’re going through a lot at home and are thinking of leaving. This is surely a difficult time for you, and we’re sure you’ve been enduring a lot. We are glad to tell you things you might want to consider in making this decision, but ultimately we aren’t going to tell you what to do. You ultimately know what’s best for you. You may want to consider how easy it will be for you to find shelter, for you to go to school, for you to get food, and for you to stay safe if you run away. If you can’t think of how you’ll have access to these things, then you may want to more seriously consider alternatives to running away like emancipation. Additionally, we are so glad you have a boyfriend who is willing to support you through this difficult time, and we encourage you to continue to seek support from your boyfriend.

Hopefully this helped. Thanks so much for reaching out to us. If you have any questions or want to talk more, please call us at 1-800-786-2929.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 17 and gonna be 18 in 5 months I got a bus ticket to move across the country a place to stay for a couple of weeks and I have a good job History I was just wondering what could my parents do if I’m on the other side of the country

[ccsmod11]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us to help you decide about this situation. It sounds like you’re going through a lot at home and are thinking of leaving. This is surely a difficult time for you, and we’re sure you’ve been enduring a lot. Hopefully we can help.

We’re not legal experts, so what we tell you may not apply in your community, even if it applies in most of the U.S. Usually, if a runaway report is filed on a youth, the police are authorized to search for the youth and return them home. In most parts of the U.S., running away is not illegal and won’t result in a youth getting arrested or fined. Adults who you stay with could be charged for harboring a runaway, which is a very rare charge, but a charge you may want to know about. Penalties for this charge vary widely across the U.S.

Even if you leave to a different state, your runaway report will be valid, and police can try to send you home. Because you are traveling so far, the police may detain you themselves or send you to a shelter while they try to figure out how to get home. From other youth we have talked to who have had that happen to them, it sounds like it is a very difficult and frustrating process, and how exactly it is handled seems completely dependent on the police where you stay.

Hopefully this helped. Thanks so much for reaching out to us. If you have any questions or want to talk more, please call us at 1-800-786-2929.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

im 16, i have a job as a hostess, im working on getting another job and im already set up to take a CNA course next year provided by my school. I have money stashed away and a plan on where to live, a friend , who is 18 that can get an apartment is willing to share rent with me right by my school and work. they have a car if need be but id be close enough to walk to work. I am stable i just need to get out of this house. My parents kicked my brother out at 17, he did exactly what i have planned and now he has a job and is married at 19. I have the right mind set and people to help me get through this safely. my dad said if i leave he will continually send the police after me, what will they do? If i get brought back home, i plan to continue leaving

[ccsmod5]

Hi, there,
Thank you for reaching out and sharing some of what’s been going on. It sounds like you’re a really motivated and driven young person, which is awesome. That’s definitely something to be proud of. As far as leaving home, your father would unfortunately still have the right to file a runaway report. If the police are able to find you, they will return you home. If you continue to leave, then the situation may change, though keep in mind we aren’t legal experts. There’s a possibility that your father could get the courts involved and you may face consequences for continually running away. On the other hand, there is also a possibility that if you continue to run away, the police may stop bringing you home in order to prioritize other cases they may have.
Another option you could consider is emancipation. Emancipation is a legal process where you would become your own legal guardian. One of the requirements for emancipation is that you prove you are able to support yourself financially and that you have the emotional maturity to do so. It sounds like you do have a job(s) and are in the process of getting a plan together for living and schooling. You may be a good candidate for emancipation. The first step to starting this process is typically to get a lawyer. If you need help finding legal resources, you’re welcome to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929.
Thank you again for reaching out. We hope this was helpful and we encourage you to reach out by phone if you need additional resources or need help figuring out your options. Our number is 1-800-786-2929 and our lines are always open if you'd like to speak more specifically about what's going on. If you have a moment, we'd appreciate your feedback of our crisis services at the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

Stay safe!

[Guest]

What are the rights of a minor that is 17 and will be 18 in july. Does she have any say in were she lives. She wants different guardians.

[ccsmod5]

Hi, thanks for your questions. We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking a 17-year-old does not have the right to decide where they want to live until they are 18. If she has permission from her parents to live elsewhere, there is no issue with that. If you have more specific questions, feel free to call us at 1-800-786-2929.
Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

So, I’m 15 and I’m not really looking to run away but it’s just a possibility I’m thinking of. I want to confess that someone in my family continually molested me for more than half a decade because I hate keeping this secret and my molestor is dating my best friend so I want her to know the truth. However, my parents told me to keep quiet about it when it began and I’d likely get in some serious trouble with them if I admitted what happened. But I’m just about done hiding the truth because they’re too embarrassed to admit that someone related to them would do that to their child. I recently learned I have PTSD ( no-one else knows) and I don’t even know why I’m writing this… but just hypothetically speaking, what would happen if I ran away at 15, 16, or 17 years old? I know there’s some sort of possibility that they’d be charged with something because of what my abuser did and my parents knowing and telling me to shut up about it, but I don’t really want my mom to pay for it legally. I just kinda want her to suffer the embarrassment and be ashamed of her actions by her friends. Maybe that’s harsh but… I do, sorry for the long rant. Hopefully this is a comment and not a reply to someone else’s question…

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It must be really hard to live in a home where you aren't being taken seriously and where your voice isn't being heard. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

You mentioned that you were molested repeatedly. You do not deserve to have this happen to you, and we believe and support you. You have a right to have your voice heard and your experience acknowledged and respected. You are a survivor and that means that you have a great strength and resilience inside you. It can be really hard to deal with this alone and sometimes it’s helpful to reach out to additional agencies for support. One really great resource for all survivors of sexual assault or abuse is RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network). You can call them any time 24/7 at 1-800-656-4673, or go to www.rainn.org to use their online hotline. RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network) is is a sexual assault hotline and has a lot of services, support, and resources that you may find helpful. You can also meet with your school counselor/social worker as they may be able to help identify local resources and provide assistance with the PTSD you have. Another option you have is contacting the police to report the molestation. You can do this by calling either 911 or 311.

As far as your question goes, we aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if you do opt to leave your home your parents can file a runaway report, which is essentially a missing person report. Running away is a status offense; this means that it isn’t illegal, but it’s something you can’t do while still a minor. If a runaway report is filed and you are located by the authorities you will most likely be returned to your parents.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

So I’m 17 and I turn 18 next July my grandmother already said I can live with her but my dad and mom has said no ur not living with ur grandmother and she lives near a school and she offers to bring me to the school she is gonna let me go to and I’m planing on getting my license and a car soon my dad sometimes hits me and my mom slaps my face and I have told them can u please stop and my dad also had threatened me on calling his cop friends and I said I’m legally able to move out at 16 and he dosent like that much but I try to tell him I’m not happy and stuff and he says I don’t wont to ********ing hear it he swears at me has called me a moron multiple times but I’m just curious is my grandmother able to go to court have a judge say it’s ok for her to ask custody of me and my younger sister who is 13

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension. We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if you do opt to leave your home your parents can file a runaway report, which is essentially a missing person report. Running away is a status offense; this means that it isn’t illegal, but it’s something you can’t do while still a minor. If a runaway report is filed and you are located by the authorities you will most likely be returned to your parents.

You mentioned that your dad and mom occasionally hit you. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it. If you feel like this is an option you want to explore, you may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/. We can also help you to file a report if that’s the route you are considering. If child protective services finds that home is unsafe they may be able to place you with your grandmother.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 16 and want to move out I live in Maine, can I move out w out my parents consent

[ccsmod9]

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.
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 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

[Guest]

i live in Maine I'm 17 will be 18 in 7 months want to move out of my abusing house hold to go live with my boyfriend and his family how can i get out fast and easy without my parents coming after me please help

[ccsmod16]

Hi. Thank you for reaching out to NRS, we know that it takes a lot of bravery to do that. At NRS, we are here for you, to talk through and come up with resources to help you in your situation. You deserve love and happiness from your family. We do want to alert you that if you leave home without parental consent your mom may file a runaway report and if you are found you could be returned home. However, there are options to report the abuse such as alerting CPS of the abuse or school personal. We can role play these conversations to help you navigate more easily how you might communicate your situation to those who can help with next steps. We are here to support you and talk through options. We recognize that this must be very challenging but wish you nothing but the best. You are welcome to chat us through this website, or call our hotline at 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY). We are rooting for you.

[Guest]

In Maine how old do you have too be too leave your mother s house if you have reason too do so like his mother is very mean too him and he really dislikes her very much and his aunt has been his only think that he wants too be with and when her leaves him with his mother he cries all the time and his mother take's him too work with her and she leaves him in the car all by himself and he's only 10 years old but he really hates staying at his mother's house or even begin around her

[ccsmod16]

Hi
Thanks for reaching out, we are glad that you did. A person can legally leave home at age 18, but this child, being left in a car while she works is in need of Maine's Office of Child and Family Services. You can call them at 1-800-452-1999 24/7.
If they deem him to be in danger from his mother, they might place him with the aunt, but we cannot guarantee what the state will actually do.
We hope that the child gets the help he needs through the State of Maine.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

Im 13 and my mom has emotional and phisically abused me for years my older sister left when she was 13 to my dad who i have not seen in 10 years i found out she left home and is not 19 and i have 2 baby sisters and a older brother he cant help me theres no way for me to go to my dad i was sexuallly asulted when i was 9 ummmm i lost my bes buddy cat when i first left my dad when i was 3 with my mom and i got this cat which died when i was 11 and ive had so many problems i wanna kill myself and im thinking running away and also my mom said shes calling cps tommorow and lying and saying im hatful and abusive to her and there gonna take me away im hurting so much and also i just moved and made new friends and shes gonna take me away from everything i love and i worried shes gonna hurt me if i try to get help

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out, we are glad that you did. It sounds like you have been through a lot and have survived a lot, including sexual assault when you were a little child. We are so sorry that you have lost 2 cats in your life and to hear how your mother treats you.
You have never deserved any of this, at all.
Calling CPS isn't something that a parent can do about a child, but you can do it about her. They are supposed to investigate when a person says they are being physically abused. The rarely take people out of the home, but they can work to force her to not abuse you.
We do work best when we can have a conversation with people, and we do truly hope that you will chat us through this website or call our hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
You can also tell a teacher what she has been doing to you. If you do feel like killing yourself you can call or text 988 the suicide lifeline.
We do hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
NRS