Turning 18 soon and want to move out legally

[ccsmod7]

Hi there thanks for reaching out today. Sounds like you are in a difficult situation wanting to leave your mom's place 2 days before you become a legal adult.

We are not legal experts but we can answer your question generally. It's typically up to local police with how they address 17 year old runaway situations, especially when you only have 2 days to go. They could decline to take a report for you, or they could take a report and not actively look for you. You might try to reach out to your local non-emergency number to see if they would take a runaway report for you with 2 days to go.

If you’d like additional support or resources please call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY 24 hours, 7 days a week or chat with us online by going to www.1800RUNAWAY.org.

I’m turning 18 in 2 days and want to leave the state as soon as I turn 18. I’ve done a lot of wrong in my life and I hurt the people I care about, I think a new start would be just what I need but don’t know exactly how to make that step. I don’t have money, I don’t have a car, I have nothing going for me and I need to leave. I feel alone in this world and when I try to regain connection I feel as if I don’t deserve it. Maybe it’s just the memories that i have at home or maybe it’s just me constantly judging myself. I don’t want to hurt anybody I care about anymore, I’d just be a burden. If you guys can help me in any way it would be very helpful

Hi, I’m turning 18 in 2 days and want to leave home

[ccsmod1]

Hey Cedric,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what's been going on, we know it takes a lot of courage. It makes sense that you want to move out and have the independence that others your age enjoy, it must be frustrating to hear that your mother wants you to stay. We aren't legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, once you are 18 you are considered an adult and can live where you please. You previously mentioned that you were previously sick and it prevented you from leaving home. It may be a good idea to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage to go into more depth about the situation and explore options that you may have available to you. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

Stay safe,
NRS

Hey there, I'm Cedric and I live in Gaithersburg, Well first I don't have a car or license and I'm still staying in this school at the age of 21. Before, moving out. But, my parents said I can't due to my sickness. So, I was wandering when will I be able to move out on that day is there any reasons? After all, my mom said that I'm not sick no more, but still have to stay in the house for quite a while.

[ccsmod4]

Reply: I'm 17 and pregnant


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. In some cases where the minor is close to becoming 18 the police may not take a runaway report or may not force the minor to return home if the deem they are not at risk. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions. You have the right to choose what you want to do with your pregnancy. For more information on your rights you might look online for legal aid services in your area.

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 and explore options, 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

I'm 17 and pregnant my moms trying to make me get an abortion and i have 4 months till im 18 can i move out

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out to us and sharing a little bit about what's going on. We aren't legal experts here at NRS, but the age of majority (adulthood) in Alabama is 19, which means that you are considered a minor until then. As you are a minor your parents have a legal obligation to provide you with necessities, including shelter. Failure to do this (kicking you out) can be considered child neglect, which is illegal. If you'd like, you have the option to file a report based on this neglectful/abusive action. 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. It may also be a good idea to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.

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

I'm in Alabama and currently 17 but I'm turning 18 in a month I was kicked out of my parents house and then filled a runaway report but I don't want to go back can I legally move out

[ccsmod6]

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. We are sorry to hear that your relationship with your parents has gotten to a point where you do not want to live at home anymore. It is unfair that they do not give you an adequate amount of privacy and that they are not supportive of your efforts to be a good child. It is inappropriate for your parents to act in a way that is abusive, physically or emotionally. If you would like to learn about the reporting process or make a report, please reach out to the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

While we are not legal experts, we do have general information about how running away is handled in the US. Unfortunately, the age of consent does not have much bearing on where you are allowed to live. Until you are legally an adult, 18, your parents do dictate where you have to reside. If you do run away as a minor, your guardians are entitled to file a runaway report. If you encounter the police with a runaway report out on you, you will most likely not be arrested. Most of the times, the guardians are notified and the runaway is simply taken home. If you have not already, it may be a good idea to reach out to your biological father and talk about the possibility of transferring custody from your current parents to him. If your parents are not happy with the current situation either, they may be open to allowing you to live with your biological father. There may be other options and if you would like to talk more about your situation, please reach out to us on our 24/7 hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY or on chat at 1800runaway.org.

Hello, I'd like to remain anonymous as well. I am stuck on the laws of North Carolina for runaways. Let's say that I have just turned 16 and I would like to leave my parental's house. I have heard, 16 is the age of consent here in North Carolina and to become a legal adult at the age of 16, you would have to sign an emancipation for myself, but, I would not like my parentals to know.
My parentals are very strict and over-protective. They always try to check my phone, know who I'm talking to, know who I'm texting and accusing me of having attitudes at times when I am not. I don't want to give out too much information but, my parentals are both physically and emotionally abusive. There have been attempts to resolve these issues but the service where I'm from would just push it to the side, not bothering to look into it more because I am not 18 yet. Is there a way where I can leave my parental's house without filling out an emancipation, because my parentals would find out and I would not like them knowing about that or me posting this message. Can I leave without being filed of a 'runaway'.
My relationship with my parentals is that they always put me down when I try to be a good child. They easily get angry at everything I do, always thinking I have an attitude with them when I do not. They also threaten me, physically and emotionally abused me as I stated before and it has led me to despise them. Also, if I were to just leave at the age of consent (16) do I have to return back? Or will I just be left alone? If I were to decide to just up and go, would I be able to live/rent a place with for example, my biological father and my step-mother?
Thank you for your help.

Hello, I'd like to remain anonymous as well. I am stuck on the laws of North Carolina for runaways. Let's say that I have just turned 16 and I would like to leave my parental's house. I have heard, 16 is the age of consent here in North Carolina and to become a legal adult at the age of 16, you would have to sign an emancipation for myself, but, I would not like my parentals to know.
My parentals are very strict and over-protective. They always try to check my phone, know who I'm talking to, know who I'm texting and accusing me of having attitudes at times when I am not. I don't want to give out too much information but, my parentals are both physically and emotionally abusive. There have been attempts to resolve these issues but the service where I'm from would just push it to the side, not bothering to look into it more because I am not 18 yet. Is there a way where I can leave my parental's house without filling out an emancipation, because my parentals would find out and I would not like them knowing about that or me posting this message. Can I leave without being filed of a 'runaway'.
My relationship with my parentals is that they always put me down when I try to be a good child. They easily get angry at everything I do, always thinking I have an attitude with them when I do not. They also threaten me, physically and emotionally abused me as I stated before and it has led me to despise them. Also, if I were to just leave at the age of consent (16) do I have to return back? Or will I just be left alone? If I were to decide to just up and go, would I be able to live/rent a place with for example, my biological father and my step-mother?
Thank you for your help.

[ccsmod9]

Thanks for reaching out to us here at NRS. We know that you must be going through a difficult time for you. Our hope is to provide you with resources available to you.
From what we gather about your friend as long as she waits till she is 18 she can move out as soon as she turns 18. She can even call the cops to help escort her and her stuff out of her parent’s house. So no they cannot do anything to make her stay legally. She will have her full rights when she turns 18.
Again we want to thank you again for seeking us out. We hope that we have given you some answers to make a decision that is best for your friend. If you or your friend have more questions or concerns please feel free to call us at (1-800-786-2929) or online on our chat option at (www.1800runaway.org) Again we hope you can find a solution to your current situation.
Best Wishes- NRS

Hi, my friend is turning 18 in a month and her house hold containing her family members and parents of course isn't so great, she is desperate to move out. When she turns 18 can she move out on her own without her parents consent? And If they call the cops on her for leaving home without their permission, will they make her go back to her parent's house?

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

No one deserves to feel absolutely miserable in their own home. It sounds like you have been struggling with suicidal thoughts and actions and we’re glad you’re still here. Sometimes contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or even calling us at 1-800-RUNAWAY when you’re struggling in the moment can be helpful.

We are not legal experts, but in most states, running away under the age of 18 constitutes a status offense, which means it is not illegal per se but could carry with it certain consequences. In particular, if your parents file a runaway report, then the police may be able to take you back home if they can find you. They also may be able to charge the person with whom you are staying with harboring a runaway, a potential misdemeanor. However, not all police departments accept these reports for 17-year-olds who are so close to legal age. It may be worth checking directly with your local police station as to how they handle those types of situations.

One option would be obtaining permission from your parents to live somewhere else. It is against the law for them to kick you out of their home without having an alternative living situation set up. This alternative living situation could be your friend or family member that you already have in mind.

Another option would be moving temporarily into a youth shelter, with the knowledge that the shelter would most likely contact your parents. Again, if you contact us by phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY we can help you locate shelters and legal resources nearby. We can also talk about other ways you can make your current situation more bearable.

Best of luck,

National Runaway Safeline