17 year old wants to move out

[Guest]

17.5 Girl wanting to move.
Hi, I am 17.5 in Colorado and will be turning 18 in March. I live in a house alone with my mom. We have had troubles for the past 3 years but I always brushed it off as I was just being a dramatic teenager. She is very controlling to the point that I can't close my door. Granted there are some other things to the story, however its gotten to the point that sometimes our fights turn physical and the emotional damage its doing to both of us is exhausting. I feel claustrophobic in my own house. She calls my work and yells at my coworkers if they say I can't come to the phone. I was wondering if I would be able to move out without legal repercussions, and/or being brought back home. I want to save whatever relationship I have with her, as even therapy has not worked. I have a job, a safe place to go, and joined the National Guard to pay for college. I need to know what the laws are in Colorado are and what extent the police would go to if she called.

[ccsmod6]

Hey there,

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. It’s great that you are acknowledging the validity of your issues and we want to commend you for reaching out to us when times are difficult. We are sad to hear that your mother is not as trusting of you as she should be and that this results in her treating you unfairly and in a way that is frustrating and detrimental to your wellbeing. It sounds like you are an ambitious young person with the drive to pursue your aspirations. In this sort of situation, emancipation is sometimes an option but given your proximity to being 18, you would probably age out before the process even finishes. We are not legal experts, but generally it is not illegal to run away. If you ran away, your mother could file a runaway report. This would mean that if the police found you, you would not be arrested, but they would most likely take you home and notify your legal guardians. In some places, and this varies from city to city and state to state, the police do not pursue runaway reports on youth who are so close to 18. You could find out your particular location by contacting your local police non-emergency number. If you would like to ask specific legal questions, we can put you in touch with legal agencies who specialize in youth advocacy and are experts on that subject. If you are interested in doing so, please do not hesitate to reach out to us on our 24/7 hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY or on chat at 1800runaway.org.

[Guest]

Hi I am 17 and turn 18 in February. Living at home is very difficult as I have health issues that are made worse by living here. My parents do not trust me and often yell at me and blame things on me for no reason, or they are fighting between themselves constantly. I have a job and I’ve even had them yell at me at work and to my manager. There is a lot more details but I’d like to move out to another state where I know I will be safe and can get another job, friends and complete school. I’m worried though since they are very controlling that they would call the cops and since they control my bank account they would withhold all my money.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,



Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we know that reaching out can be difficult and we are glad you have taken the first steps into reaching out. It sounds like you are going through a very frustrating time right now. Ideally living at home should not be difficult, and your health should not become worse by living at home. We are sorry that living at home has been difficult and that your health has become worse from living at home. You are almost 18 and in most states the legal age to leave home is 18. So if it is possible you may want to consider waiting until you turn 18 to leave your home. We understand that waiting sometimes is not possible. Your safety is our top concern, and we want to make sure you feel safe wherever you are. Running away is not a criminal offense, it is a status offense. What that means is if your parents were to file a report and the police found you they would most likely bring you back home. We are not legal experts but in most cases the police do not pursue runaway reports for people who are 17, because they are so close to being of legal age. You could also consider withdrawing your money and setting up your own bank account, but you may want to check with your bank on age requirements for opening up a bank account. If you would like to discuss more about your situation or have any other questions feel free to give us a call, we are available 24/7. Please stay strong and know you are not alone!

NRS

[Guest]

I’m 17 and I am about to be 18 in 23 days. I want to move out of my parents house but they keep saying if I leave they will take custody of my child. Can they legal do that? I want to move out because I’m not in a good situation

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. We are sorry to hear you are not in a good living situation, and we will try our best to help.

It sounds like you have given a lot of through to moving out once you turn 18. We are by no means legal experts, and everyone’s situation is different- which makes it difficult to give a detailed/specific answer to your question, but we do have a general idea we can share with you.The good news is that you shouldn’t encounter any issues once you turn 18 because you would be considered a legal adult. As long as you have legal custody of your child, your parents should not be able to take over custody.
One thing to consider if is you and your child have a safe place to stay once you move out. You can always give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY if you would like to explore your options and chat about your situation in more details.

Best of luck,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi im 16 and im tired of living with my mom shes the worst person i ever met the hardest to get along with when where ok itsok but ig she has anger issues she get pysical she says bery hurtful stuff like i wish i didnt had you i never wanted to have you your a horrible person your a ********** and many more words she hits me when shes mad the worst she says shes waiting for me to be 18 so leave so she never knows of me again and its getting worst i dont want to hurt her or call the cops on her i still love her but i was wondering can i move at 17 and a half ? My dad isn’t in the picture either what can i do when is the youngest i can move ?

[ccsmod10]

Hey there,

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. We are sorry to hear you are not in a good living situation, and we will try our best to help.

It sounds like you have given a lot of through to moving out once you turn 18. We are by no means legal experts, and everyone’s situation is different- which makes it difficult to give a detailed/specific answer to your question, but we do have a general idea we can share with you.The good news is that you shouldn’t encounter any issues once you turn 18 because you would be considered a legal adult. As long as you have legal custody of your child, your parents should not be able to take over custody.

One thing to consider if is you and your child have a safe place to stay once you move out. You can always give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY if you would like to explore your options and chat about your situation in more details.

Best of luck,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello. I am from Illinois. I am 16 years old, but will turn 17 in February. I have a tough home life. I have no relationship with my mother, and a strained one with my father. My mom and I do not agree on things. We both have different religious convictions, with her being religious and me not. Therefore, she forces me to abide by her rules and moral standards even tho i do not believe in them. We rarely if ever agree and we do not share any good memories together. Recently everything has become “just get out” for me, and I can’t stand it here anymore. If i have a safe place to stay and a family that will take care of me until I reach 18, can my parents or the police force me to return home if i was to leave now? It’s gotten so bad that i am losing my love of life and music and everything i once thought was really important to me. It’s very emotionally painful to live at home right now. Would i be able to leave now?

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you so much for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a really difficult time right now. Ideally home is where one feels happy, supported and loved, and it seems that is not the way you are feeling right now. You could consider talking to your school counselor about your feelings, they may be able to provide resources or help you talk through what is going on. Running away is not a criminal offense it is a status offense. We are not legal experts but what that means is if the police were to find you they most likely would bring you back home. You could consider seeing if you could get permission to live with a family member and that way it would be legal for you to leave home before turning 18. You could also file for emancipation, the process depends on what state you are located in. If you would like to know more about the emancipation process you can call us at any time. We hope this information is helpful in your situation. We wish you the best of luck, and remember to stay strong.
NRS

[Guest]

Okay I just graduated high school and I’m 17 and don’t turn 18 until May. I live in Colorado. I am desperately trying to see if I can leave home or get out of my house because the way my parents treat me is terrible. Tonight I tried standing up for myself and my dad hit me and it’s not the first time. Is there anyway I can get out of my house?

[ccsmod7]

Hi. Thanks so much for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline.

It sounds like you’re very unhappy with your home life and the way your parents treat you. It’s understandable why you would want to leave an environment in which you feel mistreated and disrespected. We don’t have a legal background however in most states like Colorado you must be at least 18 years old in order to leave home without parental consent. If you do decide to leave without permission it may be helpful to know that your parents do have the right to file a runaway report. If a runaway report is filed then you may require to return back home with your parents until you turn 18. However, we have heard that some police departments will not take a runaway report for someone who is 17 years old because they are so close to the age of majority. You may want to contact your local non-emergency line to check if this is true for your city. In addition, before making a decision you may also want to consider where you will go if you leave, how you will keep yourself safe, and how you will financially provide for yourself. If you would like to discuss your situation further please feel free to give us a call at 1800-runaway or come chat with us at 1800runaway.org. Also, congratulations on finishing high school. That’s such a great accomplishment, you must be really proud. We wish you the very best.

Take care,

NRS.

[Guest]

17 in 2 months

hello i live in texas and i will be 17 in 2 months. my home life is very stressful, my parents hit me and emotionally abuse me, i have no say in anything, my mom is constantly telling me what i can and can't do. My dad goes out every night and doesn't like spending time with me. My mom dislikes me and thinks i'm a bad person. A couple days ago my mom went through my phone and found out about a lot of things i had been doing, to any other normal parent these things would be considered normal high school things, of course they werent good but my parents are overreacting and treating me like a prisoner and making me miserable.They suck the life out of me i feel trapped. My mom is now making me break up with my boyfriend, stop talking to my bestfriend and all my friends, she took my phone, shes pulling me out of my school, and forcing me to go to a psychiatrist. she thinks im crazy and a horrible child. my boyfriend is 19 in a month and my parents have never liked him. Now they hate him and call him names and say a lot of nasty things, my bestfriend too although they used to love her. my mom gave me the choice to move out but i think i might wait till im 17.

my question is, when i turn 17 can i leave with parent consent? and if they give consent can they turn around and switch the story later to make me look like a runaway? will the police make me go home if i explain the situation? can i still finish high school if im on my own or living with a friends family? if i move in with my boyfriend at 17 while he is 19 can he get in legal trouble? I hear that the laws for 17 year olds leaving home in texas is weird and as long as your parents know where you are its okay, so if i tell them where im going and give them contact info will i be okay? also will i need to be emancipated and what exact rights come with emancipation? could i move in with my bestfriend?

please help im in desperate need for a change, ive thought about running away but that would cause more harm than good. i just want to be on my own and go to school, i cant deal with my parents negativity any longer itll kill me.

[ccsmod9]

Thanks for reaching out to us here at NRS. We understand you can be going through a difficult time our hope is to provide you with resources and tools to help you make the right decision for yourself. To answer all your questions.. you can leave with parent consent though you should make it on paper so its legal and parents cannot revoke what they consented to. You can live with others as long as your parents explicitly have stated that it is okay for you to live with them. For more specific information on specific situations please refer to your local police non-emergency number.
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]

want to move out roommats took id cops siding with them. I have place to go. roommat sexal tuching me cops arnt doing nothing?i have plain tickit.

[ccsmod10]

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 into a home with so much tension. No one deserves to be touched in a manner that they did not consent to and are not comfortable with. If you feel like you are in immediate danger we recommend calling 911 or other emergency services.

It seems like you have a difficult situation at hand and you’re trying to decide what is best to do. 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]

Hello, I am 17.
I wouldn't be turning 18 until September 17 but I am really desperate to move. I can't say I am in physical danger. It is more of my schooling situation. I moved with my dad from California to Colorado in June 2018 and I can't stand the schools out here. They have been putting a lot of stress on me, plus I am in the condense state of building up anxiety until I have panic attacks that never happened before in California. Since I moved out here my mom and two little brothers moved in with me during the end of the summer. Despite my dad's bad commit issues and their fighting (only verbal as far as I know) she was gonna move back this month in Feburary 22nd when taxes came in for her but she decided against it cause my little brother in middle school is doing good. I have tried over and over again to talk her into a school like my old one but had no success. I want to move in my grandma (who will let me) but I need advice on whether it is legal to move at 17 from Colorado to California and what I should do. I need to return as soon as I can to get back to the blended-charter school I used to go to. I did so good in that school without nearly as much stress as these schools in Colorado put me under. Please help. I really need it.

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for contacting us at the National Runaway Safeline. It takes great courage to reach out for help and we are glad that you decided to reach out for help.

We are sorry to hear that things are hard at school. Moving to a new city and school can be hard. Talking to a school counselor or calling SAMHSA at 1-877-726-4727 can be helpful in many situations. Family counseling can be helpful in many situations. We also offer a conference call service where we can do a 3 way call and help advocate for you and try come to a common ground. It sounds like you have been thinking about leaving home. While we are not legal experts if you are to leave home without your legal guardians permission and a police report is filed police can bring you back home and whoever you stay with could be charged with harboring a runaway. However at 17 some states may not pursue a runaway. In some cases the police may not pursue a runaway at 17. It is best to call the local police department emergency number to find that out. If you call us at our 24 hour confidential hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY(786-2929) we can listen to you, explore your situation and provide any resources.

This seems like a hard situation and you are doing great by reaching out for help. We wish you the best and hope to hear from you soon.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

need help

im 17 (turn 18 in january) and i live in florida with my physically and emotionally abusive mother and i plan to run away to ohio in the summer after finishing junior year. i have a place to stay lined up but i am not sure about how to enroll in school to complete my senior year of high scjool. in addition to this, i am worried about the possibility of my friend and his family being faced with legal punishment for helping me... i don't know what to do... i absolutely need to leave but i don't want to put them in any danger and i really need some straight answers... different websites say different things about the law and it's all so confusing (i want to talk to your crisis line but i cannot call and im not sure if you have a crisis line accessible via text)

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thank you for your message. It sounds like you’re in a scary situation and it takes a lot of courage to reach out for support. You do not deserve to be abused in any way—no one does. If you’d like, you have the right to file an abuse report with Child Protective Services; for more information on what that looks like and what might happen if you file a report, you can call Child Help (aka the National Child Abuse Hotline) and 1-800-422-4453. That being said, we understand if that is not an option you’re interested in.
It sounds like you’re planning to run away and have done some of the work of figuring out a place to stay. That’s really smart of you and helps keep you safe. You ask about the possibility of the folks you’re staying with getting in trouble legally. We aren’t legal experts here, but we do have a long history of talking with young people in situations like yours. From what we know, there is a possibility of your friend’s parents (and/or your friend, if he is a legal adult) being charged with something called “harboring a runaway.” We do not hear about this charge happening very often, especially in situations where the young person is being abused. If they do get charged, harboring is typically considered a misdemeanor resulting in a fine or possibly jail time.
As far as school, you may want to have an adult reach out to the school you’d like to attend to ask about the situation. If possible, the person to speak to would be the “homeless youth liaison” or “homeless youth advocate.” If there are youth programs around, they may also be able to guide you in the process of getting enrolled in school. Finally, there is a great resource called the National Center for Homeless Education; their helpline is 1-800-308-2145.
Thank you again for your message. If you’d like to talk further, feel free to call 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat at https://m2.icarol.com/ConsumerRegist...d=254&cc=en-US . We are here 24/7 to listen, provide resources, and help you think through your options. Stay safe and stay strong!
Kindly,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm currently a 17 year old senior in high school and live in Chicago, IL.

I want to move out during the summer, but i won't be 18 till august. My mom is verbally abusive and controlling. I want to move in with my sister(24) who would be okay with it, but my mom refuses to let me leave til im 18. After I get my diploma, will i be able to move out without her being able to file me as missing person?

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thank you for your message. It sounds like you’re in a very difficult situation. You don’t deserve to be abused in any way and it’s understandable that you would want to leave that situation. We’re glad that you have someone you’ll be able to stay with. You asked about leaving home once you get your diploma. We aren’t legal experts here, but very generally speaking, your mom could file a runaway report with local police if you leave. The police are generally supposed to look for you, but as an almost-18 year old in a large city, it may not be a top priority for the police to bring you home. If it comes to it, you might also consider calling CCBYS (comprehensive community-based youth services); this referral line can get you in touch with a social services agency that will send a crisis worker to meet you within two hours. That number is 1-877-870-2663. Again, thank you so much for reaching out. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 if you need any support, resources, or just someone to talk to. We wish you the very best. Stay strong and stay safe!
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 17 and live in Tennessee. My family blames me for everything and makes me feel like I am a terrible person all around, when no one else thinks of me this way. They barade me with hate and make me feel like I’m not welcome or loved. I’m even told that I need to leave and find somewhere else to stay. I have my own job, and have had this job for almost a year. I don’t graduate for another year, but I don’t want to live with my family anymore. Would I get into any trouble for living with a friend, boyfriend, etc. without my parents permissin? Can I move out legally?

[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 with so much tension - you shouldn't be berated and treated with malice by your family. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do. You mentioned that your family has told you that you need to leave and find elsewhere to stay. If they do ever kick you out of the home it can be considered neglect and you have the right to report this to Child Protective Services. If this happens and you feel like this is an option you want to explore, you may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/.

We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if you do opt to leave your home without 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.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

So i been living with my dad and i don't want to anymore.i can't take it. He is constantly drinkimg and we have bed bugs.now cuz of him... I hate bugs.. Please someome help me
im 17

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are sorry to hear that your dad has made your living conditions so miserable. If your dad has a substance problem and is not providing you with a safe and sanitary place to live, that could be considered neglect- a form of abuse. It might be in your best interest to file an abuse report if you would like to leave. You can learn more about that process or file such a report by calling out to the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. We can also look for transitional living programs in your area that may be able to house you. If you would like to talk about either option or whatever other options that may exist, please don’t hesitate to call us on our 24/7 hotline at 1-800-786-2929.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

17 in 5 months wants to run away


Hi,im from California and am going to be 17 in 5 months, i dont think i can wait that long. Me amd my mother dont get along and it gets physical between us two on both ends as well as verbally abusive on both ends as well. My mother wont keep me home if i dont want to stay but she would put me in a state facility. A place i DO NOT want to go under any circumstances. If i do choose ro runaway it would be to Montana. So i guess my question is if i runway will i be arrested or charged in either state? And if i stay with a friend who has a place will he be charged for hardoring a runway? Hes 18.

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are sorry to hear that you are living in such an intense household where it sounds like nobody is very happy. It makes sense for you want to leave that kind of environment and it makes sense that you do not want to stay in a state facility.

While we are not legal experts, we do have a great deal of experience working with runaway youths. It is our understanding that running away is NOT illegal. You will not be arrested for it or charged with anything if you do run away. However, if you choose to do so, your mom can file a runaway report with the police. This would allow the police to notify her and return you to her if you encountered them. If you stay with a friend, your mom would have the option of trying to charge them with harboring a runaway. Typically, this is considered a misdemeanor offense and treated with a fine and it requires your mom to actively pursue charges.

If you have any other questions or need anything clarified, please don’t hesitate to call us on our 24/7 hotline 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS