I need help, 16 gotta leave home in Maine

[Unregistered]

I'm 16 years old and I really want to leave home. I live with my dad and he treats me like ********, he is unreasonable and only cares about himself and not how his words or actions effect others...including me. When I was 11 my mother passed away and it left me extreamly depressed, on top of that my father had also grounded me for two years for talking to a boy that he didn't want me talking to. I was cut off from everybody and was extreamly depressed and I started cutting and I tried to kill myself because of it. My dad didn't help me at all through this, he didn't bring me to the hospital or anything to help. We were on good terms for a while but ever since I graduated high school he's me extreamly rude and mean and its making me feel like I'm falling back into that slump I was in when my mom passed I don't want to get as depressed as I was then, when we fight I get thouse thoughts again and I don't want to hurt myself...I don't feel safe here for that reason. My boyfriends mother agreed for me to stay there and she would care for me and feed me and treat me like her own, I would be giving her money for food and stuff anyways as a thankyou for helping me out. I have a job, a license, I've graduated high school, and plan to go to beauty school in September. I will be turing 17 in early September as well. I don't want to hurt myself and talking to my dad about this isn't going to do any good. I want to know my rights and how I can leave and live with my boyfriend as soon as possiable. Please help me

[ccsmod10]

RE: I need help, 16 gotta leave home in Maine

Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to us. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their own home. It sounds like you want to leave home legally. We are sorry to hear your dad treats you that way; nobody deserves to feel like they are not cared for. It sounds like you have a safe place to go and are planning on leaving soon.

Just to let you know we are not legal experts. We can however explain what we know about the runaway laws. Technically, it is not against the law for you to run away from home. In most places it is considered a status offense. However, anyone you are caught staying with could possibly be charged with ‘harboring a runaway’ should your legal guardian decide to press charges. Is this a risk your boyfriend’s mother is willing to take for you?

Another option would be to look into emancipation. Emancipation laws vary from state to state, but typically if you are financially independent, living apart from your legal guardian, enrolled in school, and declared independent from the state through your court system. This can be a lengthy process and often takes time and money. If you wanted to call us, we could look up some legal aid referrals for you that might be able to help you with this process.
You also mentioned you have been feeling like hurting yourself. The National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK is a good resources if you are feeling like self-harm or committing suicide. We would also like to talk to you if you feel comfortable reaching out to us.

We can be reached at any time at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We can also be reached online at www.1800runaway.org from 4:30pm-11:30pm Central Standard Time. We hope to hear from you soon and wish you the best of luck.

-NRS