17 year old wants to move out

[ccsmod6]

RE:

Hi there,

Thank you for contacting us here at the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). It sounds like you are wondering if your parents would get into any trouble for allowing you to live with a family friend while they move away. We, unfortunately, are not legal experts here at NRS and cannot give specific, legal answers. It may be best to seek legal consultation from local authorities or a legal aid office to be on the safe side. A legal document may be helpful in the event that you are either no longer allowed to live in the home or your parents change their mind. Your parents are legally responsible for you until you reach 18 years of age. Again, we are not legal experts, but if you would like to talk more about resources or where you may get some legal answers please reach out by phone or chat 1-800-786-2929 (www.1800runaway.org).

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best,

NRS

[Kg22]

Parents won't let me attend college

I really need help. I'm seventeen and graduating high school. I won't be 18 until November but I have recently been accepted into a four year University. It will be two months before my birthday when semester starts and my dad doesn't want me to attend for his personal religious beliefs. I live in California and the college is in Chicago. What do I do?

[ccsmod0]

Re: 17 year old wants to move out

Hi, thank you for contacting us here at the National Runaway Safeline. Congratulations on being accepted into a four year University, that’s really good!
It sounds like you are concerned about what could happen if you left home to go to school without your father’s agreement, and you will be very close to being 18. We are not legal Laws and enforcement vary from state to state, and even between counties and cities. It is possible you father could report you as a runaway, and the police may look for you and bring you home. Since you would almost be 18, and if you are attending school in a safe situation, it may be unlikely but possible. Is there another family member that may be able to help?
You have lot to think about. How would you travel to Chicago, and would you have safe accommodations at the University when you arrive? How about financial help? The counselors at the University can be a great source of support in all these areas. There also may be other school options that come up to consider as well.
If you would like to talk further, please feel free to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) on our 24/7 Safeline, or you can chat with us through our website. We’re here to listen and help, we wish you the best of luck.

[Unregistered]

help me out.

Hello, my name is ****** *******, I am a junior in Utah, 16 yrs of age. I have a father that is an illegal immigrant and that does illegal drug is it in my household. He does get angry and pushes, drags, Yanks, and throws me. He has gave me multiple bruises, and my mother doesn't do anything about it. My father physically abuses me and mentally abuses me and my mother mentally abuses me. They threaten me and my boyfriend, and just recently I have gotten depressed and have wanted not to live life anymore. And my own mother told me that I was fine. Is there any tips that could help me get out of here? If so it would be greatly appreciated if you help me. Would you kindly? Thank you so much. P. S. I will be 17 on July 4th.

[ccsmod7]

Re: 17 year old wants to move out

Hi there,

Thank you for contacting us through our online forum. First of all, you don’t deserve to be abused. No on has the right to hurt you, physically or emotionally. You are very brave for sharing these issues that you are facing.

Have you ever told anyone about what has been happening at home or about you feeling like you don’t want to live? Maybe a relative, a family friend, school friend, a teacher, or a counselor at school? Perhaps having someone to talk to about what you have been dealing with can help reduce some of that stress you've been feeling.

Reporting abuse is also an option. We know that this can be really intimidating and really difficult for a lot of people. Here's a little bit of information in case that's an option that you're considering. If abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it to the proper authorities. 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.

Because of all that you are going through, and because you mentioned that you’ve been struggling with feeling depressed, we want to let you know that we are always here to listen and support you over the phone. In addition to us, you can also call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255.

We hope that you reach out to us through our 24 hour crisis line or our online chat.

NRS

[Unregistered]

17 with child want to move out

Hi I'm Johanna, i live in Arizona I'm going to be 17 years old in September but I'm planning to move out once I graduate high school with out parent consent can my parents interfere with this because my boyfriend is 19 he has a house and everything can my parents call the police a report me as a runaway?

[ccsmod10]

Re: 17 with child and want to move out

Hello Johanna,

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It's a great first step to finding the help and information that you may need. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now.
We are not legal experts here, but typically 18 is the age where youth are considered to be an adult. This means that being under this age you would need parent's permission to be able to leave home. It's not illegal to leave without this permission, but it would that parents can file a runaway report. If located, the police would return you home. Graduating or getting a degree does not substitute this permission and the age of your boyfriend does not have any effect as to the capability of filling the runway report because it does not have any bearing to the permission that is needed. However some police districts may treat runaway reports differently when youth youth is 17. One way to know is by calling your local police district and ask hypothetically. You wouldn't have to give identifying information or specifics of your situation. Some things that may be a legal issue is that being with someone who is significantly older. It looks like the age of consent (the age that you are legally able to decide who you can be in a relationship with) is 18. This could mean parents can press other charges on him. You can get more information regarding this by visiting this website:

http://sexetc.org/

You mentioned having a safe place to go. This an important aspect in creating a safety plan. Having the support of someone who cares for you is very comforting. Some things to think about for the future if you will continue your education after high school or get employment, if so where? How long do you anticipate on being gone or being able to stay where ever you may be? How will you support yourself or whom you will be staying with be willing to support you financially with food, clothing, other personal expenses/ allow you to stay rent free? What if things do not work out here in the future, what will be your back up plan?

Stay Strong,
NRS

[Unregistered]

Re: 17 year old wants to move out

I am 17 years old, and in one month I will be 18. However, my parents make it seem like I am required to stay at home even though I have graduated early and now finished my first semester of college with passing grades and also work two jobs, one part time and one full time. They are the type of parents who will call the police on me. What should I do? I cannot be in my house anymore, my mothers mental illness affects me too much and it causes me to have suicidal thoughts. She has now hit me, and it does not bother me, but the verbal abuse in my house is too much for me.

[ccsmod10]

Re: 17 year old wants to move out

Hello There,

Thanks for reaching us at the National Runaway Safeline. It is a great first step to finding the information and help that you may need. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now being home with your family. These things can definitely can be frustrating and overwhelming. You are so strong for having gone through so much already and doing what you think is best for you. No one deserves to have to deal with such treatment. Home should be a place of safety, comfort, and support. It's great that you are in school and have a job. Those are such great things to have.

Some things to think about for the future if you will continue your education. How long do you anticipate on being gone or being able to stay where ever you may be? How will you support yourself or whom you will be staying with be willing to support you financially with food, clothing, other personal expenses/ allow you to stay rent free? What if things do not work out here in the future, what will be your back up plan?

Another important detail is thinking about what your parent’s reaction will be, which seems to be a great concern of yours. We are not legal experts here, but typically being under the age of what your state considers to an adult (usually 18 ), you would need permission from your parents to leave. It is not illegal to runaway or leave home without permission, but it would mean that your parents could file a runaway report. The police would then be required to return you home. However, being so close to 18 some districts handle these reports differently by possibly no actively searching for youth. You could find this out by calling your local police district’s non-emergency number. You would not have to give them specific information. If you feel uncomfortable doing so, you can call us at 1800-RUNAWAY and we could call on your behalf.

We hope that this information that was helpful.
Stay Strong,
NRS

[Unregistered]

Re: 17 year old wants to move out

Hi, I'm Morgan and I'm from Maryland. I want to move out the second I graduate from high school but I'll only be 17. My parents aren't physically abusive or anything but I don't like being home. They are always fighting and yelling in the kitchen which is right below my room. I do most of the house work but every day they come home and yell at me. They are verbally abusive but child services cant do anything about that. I've been trying to get out of my house for over a year now. my aunt has a house that I can move into if I pay utilities and my boyfriend has offered me the apartment above his garage. Could my parents do anything about me moving out? Do ii have to do something legally to get independence from them earlier than 18?

[ccsmod16]

Re: 17 year old wants to move out

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We’re glad you found our forum. It sounds like your parents’ fighting and verbal abuse is really starting to wear on you, and you’re considering your options for living outside the home. It really shows how resourceful and independent you are that you’re seeking support and exploring what other options you may have.

We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but we can speak in general terms about some of your options moving out before 18 (which is the age of adulthood in Maryland, when you can legally self-determine). You can generally live outside the home before you turn 18 in three ways: 1) CPS involvement, which you’ve said may not be helpful as verbal abuse is hard to act upon; 2) Emancipation, which can be a lengthy process during which you will need to prove to the courts that you are self-sufficient, which can be challenging to do while you’re in school. You could always call Maryland Legal Aid to ask about this process in detail: 1-800-845-8550; 3) Parental Permission. Parental permission can amount to your parents not calling the police if you go stay with your aunt or boyfriend. Once you’re done with high school, they may choose not to retain their legal right to keep you home. Do you think your parents would be amenable to you staying with one of the options you’ve identified this summer/until you turn 18 or get on your feet independently?

If you do not think your parents will agree to a permission-based arrangement, there are some risks to consider. Until you turn 18, your parents are legally responsible for taking care of you, and thus have a right to file a runaway report with the police should you decide to move out. This would mean if police found you, they would simply bring you home; nothing would go on your record and you would not be sent to jail or juvie unless something illegal was happening when they found you. However, police pursue 17-year-old runaways very differently department to department. We often recommend calling the local police on their non-emergency number to ask anonymously how they pursue these cases. We could always do that with you if you wanted support on the line with the PD. Call us anytime at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929), and we can support you through that process.

Again, it really sounds like you’ve got a good head on your shoulders and are just trying to get into a happier and healthier environment. Stay strong and don’t hesitate to reach out if we can support you further.

Best,
NRS

[Unregistered]

Re: 17 year old wants to move out

I live in Texas and Im having problems at home. I really want to move out, my parents are always threatening to beat me and im terrified. I just dont want them to get me if i do move because i know i would end up getting beat. i really need some advice in what to do... Please help me

[ccsmod1]

RE: 17 year old wants to move out

Thank you for reaching out. Asking for help can be difficult and we’re glad that you took that first step and reached out to National Runaway Safeline. No one deserves to be threatened or abused. Even though we are not legal experts here at NRS, we can give you a little more information.

The legal age of majority in Texas is 18. If you move out before that, your parents could file a runaway report with the police. Running away is considered a status offense, not a crime. So if the police find you, they would not take you to jail but they could return you to your parents. We have heard that some local police departments do not accept runaway reports for a 17 year old, but this is not a guarantee. Many teens ask us about legal emancipation, but unfortunately that is usually a long process involving lawyers and court dates. If you have been abused already, you could always file an abuse report with the police. It sounds like you are very scared at home – that is completely understandable - and our number one concern is your safety. Are there any other adults or family members that you can discuss your situation with? You could try talking to a school counselor or principal. They may know more about options available nearby and might be able to help you have a conversation with your parents about the situation.

If you would like to give us a call here at the hotline, we could discuss your situation in more detail and maybe provide you with some more resources. We could provide you with some phone numbers for legal aid if you have more legal questions. We could also have a conference call with your parents if you would like to discuss your situation with them further. A representative from NRS would be on the phone for a conference call and we can help to keep the conversation positive. We wish you luck and hope you can stay safe. Please give us a call if you can at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) so we can try to help you a little more.

[Unregistered]

Re: 17 year old wants to move out

I am 17 years and 4 months old, I live in Utah, and I want to move out. By the time I'll have enough money to go, I'll be 17 and 7 months.
A friends mom in Arizona has told me she would be more than willing to let me live with her, but my mom has told me that she doesn't want me to.
If I were to go to Arizona without my moms consent, could my friend's mom, who has offered to let me live with her (shes 40) get in trouble?

[ccsmod0]

Re: 17 year old wants to move out

Thank you for using our bulletin service.
It is great that your friend’s mother is willing to let you come and live with them. It sounds like they are really supportive of you. Unfortunately we are not legal experts nor are we affiliated with the police so we can only speak generally about what could happen if a youth leaves home without the consent of a guardian.
For anyone under the age of 18 the parents have the right to make a runaway report. Since it’s only considered a status offense and not a crime to run away, the only thing that would happen is that the police will pick up the youth and bring them back home. This is of course if they had any interaction with the police directly. If the youth is found to be living with anyone else the person that they are staying with could be charged with harboring a runaway, which is a misdemeanor offense. You can find out more about how runaway’s reports are carried out by contacting your local police department.
If you feel comfortable you can give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY