Turning 18 soon and want to move out legally

I am currently 17 years old and I’ll be 18 in two months. I’m absolutely miserable in my home and I’ve tried killing myself a few times and my parents have said on multiple occasions that Dad wants to kick me out and mom says she can’t find reasons not to. So I want to stay with a friend until I can contact a family member who might take me in. Is this something I should do?

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Reply: My fiancee is turning 18

Hello,
Thank you for writing to us here at the National Runaway Safeline.

We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on.
We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
It sounds like she has been to the police and child services for help but it sounds like she came away without any solution to her abusive situation. We don’t know what she may have been told would happen if she were to just leave and move out. Leaving would be her decision to make. Most states have laws against aiding or harboring a runaway sometimes it’s up to the police as to how they would pursue the situation. Seeing that she is so close to 18 they may not force her to go home if she feels at risk. We would be glad to explore some options of possible safe haven or runaway shelters with her.

We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.

Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If she is at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage for her to reach out to or seek emergency assistance immediately.


Take care,
NRS

My fiancee is turning 18 in a matter of 3 months. She's being severely mentally abused, and we've gone to everyone for help. Social workers, a sheriff, high ranking government officials, and many other people .we're running out of options, as we live in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Is there any information that can help her leave a little early? Maybe the police would let her stay with me, considering I have an apartment and we both have jobs? Any advice would be handy. I understand you're not legal experts, but we're out of options .

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Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out. It sounds like you're going through a really strsesful time with your mom, and we'll do our best to help.

Dealing with emotional abuse can be really stressful, especially if you're handling it on your own. When things get tough, it can be good to reach out to your support network and lean on family and friends. If you need someone to talk things out with or even if you just want to vent, you can always give us a call! We are 24/7 and ready to listen. You can reach us anytime at 1-800-786-2929. Counseling could also be helpful--if you're interested, we can help you look into any free or sliding-scale resources in your area. Just give us a call if you would like to discuss that further.

You mentioned that she's going to take your door down. That sounds like a really serious thing to do, since it will leave you with very little privacy. If you'd like, we do have a conference call service. You and your mom could call in, and we could moderate a conversation between you guys on her decision to take down your door and whether there might be a better solution. If you're interested in setting up a conference call, just give us a call at 1-800-786-2929.

Leaving home is a huge decision, since you'll need to be able to support yourself financially, emotionally, physically, etc. If you are sure that you are ready to move out, you could try giving your local police department a call on their non-emergency number to see what their policy is on taking runaway reports for 17 year olds. You are pretty close to turning 18, and assuming that is the age of majority in your state, the police might not actually take a runaway report for you. You can also try calling a youth shelter near you to see what their experience with 17 year old runaways has been.

Hopefully this helps. If you want to discuss any of this further or have any other questions, please don't hesitate to give us a call anytime at 1-800-786-2929.

Best of luck,
NRS

I’m 17 turning 18 on September 15.I can’t take it anymore with my mom. She’s emotionally abusive everyday,she always takes everything out on me not my older siblings(I am the youngest),and is going to take my door down.I can’t take it anymore.Please help.

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Hi,
Thanks for reaching out. In Ohio, the age of majority is 18, so if you leave at that age there is legally nothing your parents can do to keep you home. If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone at 1-800-786-2929.
NRS

I turn 18 in 5 days and have already been told by my best friends parents that I can move on with them. I am looking for work but have a good amount of money saved up, I'm financially responsible and have held different jobs, only reason I'm not working is because the business no longer open. If I move out the day of my 18th birthday or the day after, legally is there anything my parents can do to keep me home? Or am I legally allowed to move out and have no contact with them? I am from Ohio.

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Moving out

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.
As of right now you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws. Okay.

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

Hey, my situation is quite complicated. My mother is disabled physically and has a severe bipolar disorder. I never know what's coming next with her and the choices she will make towards parenting me and my younger sister. I failed my learners permit test the first time, but getting taken to test again has been quite difficult since I cannot rely on my mom very much to get me there, so if I get it this month, I won't get my license until March 2019. Also, I have had a job since I was 15 and I do have a place to stay once I move out. I turn 18 on December 28th, 2019. Since it's my birthday is during winter break in 2019, I would like to move out then. Somehow, I would like to be able to plan a way to move out without my mom finding out and going ballistic on me. I don't want them to know until all my things are packed and moved and I've gotten everything figured out financially and I figure out how to insure myself. Working around her is like walking all over nails. She is insane. I just need as many tips as possible to make this process stay as smooth as possible and planned well.

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Hi there,
Thank you for reaching out to us here at NRS. It sounds like you have a lot going on. Nobody deserves to be treated and made feel like they are a prisoner in their own home. Just as a quick disclaimer, we are non-directive and not legal experts, so things we may suggest are dependent on you and how you are feeling, and legally, it is best to check with your local police’s non-emergency number for the laws in your specific area.
It sounds like you have a tough situation going on but it shows a lot that you reached out to us today, that is something worth being proud of. It also sounds like you have thought through this situation a lot and have a solid idea as to what you want to do. Some things that we are able to provide is that the legal age of adulthood in Oklahoma is 18. To get the specifics on what this means it might be worth calling your local police’s non-emergency line to ask the specifics but typically this means that you are considered an adult and allowed to move out and live on your own, even during the school year. If things get harder to handle before then some options consider could include talking with your grandfather about moving out and moving in with somebody you both trust, talking with your grandmother with your grandfather there to facilitate and allow both sides to be heard, talk some more/work things out with your family friends that you feel comfortable with and see what they suggest. These are all just a few options and we are not sure what you may have already tried but it sounds like you have thought through this already.
Things at home can be really tough but you deserve to feel safe and comfortable in your home. We hope things get better and are always here to talk if you want either at our online, live chat or our 24/7 toll free hotline at 1(800)786-2929.
Best of luck,
NRS

Hello, I have only a few questions that pertain to legal issues- I mainly need some re-assurance of whether my feelings are justified.
I am 17 years old, and I live with my grandparents. I attend High School, Vo-Tech and also Ministry classes (seminary school to become a pastor). My relationship with my grandpa is outstanding- he works, he loves me, he teaches me things, and we overall just have a great time being together; however, that's not the case with my grandmother. I have lived here since 2010, and we have argued together every year since then. While I fully know I am NOT an adult, she insists on pressing it on me that I am a "stupid teenager". I have to be clear, when she says things like that, its almost like a violent argument- her face is beat red, she screams at the top of her lungs, cusses, and say a many things that out me down and punishes me too (usually by taking everything I have away). She will not allow me hang out with friends, will not let me leave her sight when I am outside of the house with them. I feel trapped (like a prisoner) in my room. I have spent many years praying amd seeking strength to get through this time, but with what she says it makes me feel like I am the one with the problem, yet I feel reassured that I am not. A family I am very close to (my grandmother strongly dislikes them, I have no clue why) knows my situation, and I can say that they are like a family to me. They have said they agree with me, and say that my feelings and desires to leave here, for my own happiness, are justified. However, my grandmother presses that I just "dont know anything". Truly, I just want to get my welding license, work for a few years and save money then buy a home (with a goal to start my own full-time ministry). It was never my desire just to leave here right after I graduated, but I know that if I want to be happy and live the life I desire that I must do something about it, not just sit here and feel miserable for several more years!
I live in Oklahoma, will turn 18 in 6 months. When I turn 18, I will still be in the middle of my senior year of High school. In guessing I can legally move out when I'm 18, even though school is still in? I can move into my sisters or the family I mentioned earlier. I wonder if this is the smart and adult thing to do... I just feel so miserable here. I love my grandpa, but my grandma makes life feel unlovable and dead.
Thank you in advance, and for what you do for other teens with similar situations!

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Hello there,

We appreciate you reaching out. It has likely been a challenging year moving out and with having to move again. Moving can bring up a lot of unexpected challenges logistically and legally so it is great you are doing you research beforehand so you can feel prepared.

The first suggestion would be to look up the age of majority in the state you are from. It may be that you are already considered an adult. If you find that you are still a minor the question is do you think your parents have filled out a runaway report or look for you given that you have already been moved out for months. Generally running away as it would be documented as is only a status offense so while if may not be much legal trouble police could try to take you back home. Another option is calling the non-emergency number for the police in your area and the area you are moving to, to see how they hypothetically would handle people running away at the age of 17 who are near 18. It can vary all the way to the police taking little to no effort to bring you back home especially at 17 and having already graduated high school. We are not legal experts so if you want specific information about what may happen specifically you could call us at 1-773-880-9865 and we could provide legal resources in your area or the one you are moving to who may provide more specific details.

Again we appreciate you reaching out. We wish you the best of luck and encourage you to call in or connect to us on chat if you have further questions of just need to talk.

I am 17 I turn 18 August 29 this year and I have been moved out of my parents house since January of this year can I legally move out of state without my parents permission

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Hello there, thanks for reaching out.

In most states, the legal age you become an adult also known as the majority age is 18. However there are a few states with older majority ages such as Mississippi, Nebraska, and Alabama. To make sure that you can legally leave at 18, you might look up your current state's majority age. You want to look up the majority age in the state you are currently in, the state where your parents would attempt attempt to contact to the police to list you as a runaway. If your state's majority age is 18, you cannot be forced to return home after leaving regardless if you leave the state or not. If you are considered a legal adult, police will not take a runaway report for you and you have the right to live on your own. You might leave a note or contact your parents without letting them know where you are to tell them that you are safe, just so they do not think you have been abducted or something bad has happened to you and try to report you as a missing person.

Please do not hesitate to call or chat if you have additional questions or if you need any support. We are here 24/7.

Best, NRS

I’m 18 and want to move out because I get in trouble for stuff I don’t do can I legally leave without getting in trouble