Can I move out 2 months before I turn 18?

[Guest]

I turn 18 in 2 moths and I was wondering if I would get in trouble with the police if I were to leave. They know some of the situation at my house cause this wouldn’t be the first time I’ve left but I just didn’t know if they would just keep bringing me back or eventually just let me be.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like things at home have been pretty difficult. We are not legal experts but we do have general knowledge of the laws. Because you are still 17 you are still considered a minor, if you leave the home without permission your parents still have the right to file a runaway report. Running away is not a criminal offense, it is a status offense. What that means is that if you were to runaway the police would most likely bring you back home. In most cases we have seen with youth being so close to 18 the police may not take a runaway report, it depends on the police department though. You can always call your local non-emergency police department and ask them anomalously how they would handle a runaway report for someone who turns 18 in 2 months.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to talk more about what is going on please give us a call, we are here 24/7. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 17 right now and I turn 18 in one month it’s February 11 soo I’m almost there will I get arrested if I do move out I just can’t handle my house any more and my mom don’t let me work I don’t know what to do anymore

[ccsmod6]

Hi, and thanks for reaching out; we’re sorry that you have such a hard time at home. Well, you wouldn’t get arrested, because running away is not a crime. The Police doesn’t usually put a whole lot of effort going after missing 17 year olds, but if your parents insist and learn where you are, then the Police has to go get you and bring you back home. Also, those with whom you’re staying could get in trouble for “harboring a minor without parental consent”.
Since your 18th BD is so close, you could try to see if your parents could just let you stay somewhere else for a couple of weeks. That way you get a break and can start planning… Otherwise, you might just have to sit tight until then…
If you think it may be helpful, we’d be happy to get on the phone with you and them, and facilitate a conversation where you can tell them how you feel and get to a compromise. Just give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) if you think a conference call may be a good idea, we’re here 24/7 for you.
Meanwhile, stay strong! Best,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 17 and will be 18 in two months and live in Tennessee, could I move in with my aunt and uncle and mot get in trouble? They were foster parents at one point and have more qualifications to take care of me than my mother and father.

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today. Sounds like you are wanting to move in with your aunt and uncle with 2 months until you turn 18.

In Tennessee the legal age you can leave home without permission is 18. So if it is possible to gain your guardian's permission to leave or to wait 2 months until you leave, those could be the legal avenues you could take to leave. If you do leave without permission with 2 months until your an adult, your guardian can attempt to file you as a runaway with local police. If they accept the report it is possible that they could return you home if found. It is possible that police might not actively pursue you due to your age. The best way to know how police might respond is to call your local non-emergency number and ask hypothetical questions. To answer your question, if your guardians do file you as a runaway and you are found at your aunt and uncle's your guardian might have the option to attempt to press harboring a runaway charges against them. However, do to your age it might be hard for them to press those charges, that is another question that you could ask police for a better response.

If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org ) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best
We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

My son is in foster care turns 18 June 1 but he is ready to leave can he leave and me go get him and us not get in trouble

[ccsmod9]

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. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. So because your son is not 18 yet by law he is still considered a minor and therefore will be returned. It might be a good idea to wait until he is of age. If you do not have custody there is a reason the court has ruled it that way and therefore could possibly get into trouble. It might be a good idea to call the local non emergency number and stay anonymous so that you can ask about your situation. 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 you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS

[ccsmod4]

Reply:My son is in foster care

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. While we are not experts on the law, someone under 18 that leaves home, the parent/guardian may file them as a runaway and they may be returned home. Also, those that a reported runaway stays with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. Anyone found to be assisting or aiding someone to run away may also find themselves at risk legally. For more specifics on the law, you might consider contacting the local non-emergency number for the police. You might also look for a legal aid center in the area. They may be able to answer any legal questions on the subject.



We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. 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).


Take care,
NRS

We hope this response was helpful! We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey: Your Opinion Matters to Us

[Guest]

So im 17 and I live in oregon, and will be 18 in 5 months. I am constantly being mentally abused by my 14 year old brother. Who does not even go to school. My father is a extreme christian and is shoving it down my throat like a hot branding iorn. I go to an alternative school and am struggling. I was out of school for two weeks do to four teeth being pulled. Now my parents have taken everything away from me and are punishing me. Is it possible to move out now before my birthday? I just dont know if i can wait and im falling in and out of bad depression cycles.

[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. It sounds really frustrating for your dad to so heavily force his beliefs on you and your brother's behavior is not OK. No one deserves to be abused in any way by anyone. Leaving home is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if you do opt to leave your home 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. Since you are so close to turning 18 the police may not require you to return home if located. Policy regarding older runaways can vary from town to town so it may be beneficial to call out to your local nonemergency police line (you can usually just dial 311) to see what the policy in your area is.

You mentioned that you have been dealing with repeated bouts of depression. It can be really hard to live with mental health issues and we want you to know that you aren’t alone in addressing them. If you’d like some additional support, an organization that may be helpful is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). You can contact them by calling 1-800-950-NAMI or you can text them by sending NAMI to 741741. Another agency that could be of great help is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), they can help you locate low or no cost mental health care providers in your area. Their number is 1-877-726-4727 or you can go to their site at samhsa.gov.

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 will be 18 in 5 months and 10 days, I haven’t lived with my parents for a couple years but now they are trying keep me away from my boyfriend who is 19, my dad calls me names, pulls my hair, threatens to beat my ass, and so on, my mom sits back and lets him, she takes his side, I live in Florida, can I move out? Now with my boyfriend.

[ccsmod4]

Reply:Hello i am 17, i will be 18 in 5 months

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 sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone CPS trust as far as transferring custody.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
If you would like to talk more in detail and explore options, please call or chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call us at 1-800-Runaway (786-2929)

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Can I move out 3 months before I turn 18

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out,

18 years old is generally the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian. If you leave home with just a few months to go it would be up to local police response. One way to find out the laws in your area is to call your local police and ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth.

We are not legal experts here but we can speak in general terms. If you are under 18 and leave home without permission, your parent/guardian may file a runaway report with the police. What actions the police take once you are filed as a runaway can vary a lot from state to state and even city to city so we cannot predict exactly what would happen in your case. Generally speaking, if you encounter a police officer while reported as a runaway, you will likely be returned home. However, in that case there may be services (family counseling, etc.) available to you as a youth in crisis/runaway but again, police procedures related to offering those services can be different based on your location or the details of your situation. Another thing to consider is that while running away is not a crime, a legal adult who allows you to stay with them may be putting themselves at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway. One way to find out the laws in your area is to call your local police and ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth.

Please do not hesitate to call or chat if you have questions, need resources, or need to talk. We can explore your situation, go over all your options, and come up with a plan and resources to deal with your situation over the phone or on live chat.

We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.

1-800-RUNAWAY; www.1800runaway.org

[Guest]

Hello I'm 17, I'll turn 18 on December .. I've ran away before because of personal reasons .. Since I ran away 2 months ago, my parents have been constantly telling me to leave if I want .. If I do, will I be considered a run away ?

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. Because you are a minor, if you left home your parents would be able to file a runaway report on you with the police. If they did file such a report, then you would be considered a runaway. If you have any further questions or if you need any support, please don’t hesitate to call us on our 24/7 hotline at 1-800-422-4453 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 17. My mother is a drunk who makes me do everything for her. I am regularly verbally abused by both my little brother and her and I can’t take it anymore. I have 25 days until I turn 18 and I was wondering if I can just move out now? My stepdad is willing to take me in right away. He lives down the street. I just want out. I’m already packing and I don’t want to have to wait the month I have to go. I just want out. Is it possible to just go? Do I need to worry about the police. I live in Iowa if thats helpful.

[ccsmod15]

Hi, Thank you for reaching out to us. We are sorry that you have been going through all of this, both the verbal abuse and living with your mother who is a drunk. You don’t deserve to be verbally abused by anyone, and your mother’s condition and behavior must be very hard and stressful. We are very glad that your stepdad is so supportive of you. You have been very brave and strong, and we are glad that in 25 days you will be free of her.
We aren’t legal experts but until you are 18, your mom would have the right to file a runaway report with the police. Whether they would search for you so close to 18; or if they showed up at your stepdad’s and you told them that you are unsafe at home, but safe there, they may just let you stay. It’s just not possible to know. It just depends on how you think your mother would react and whether she knows the location of your stepdad or a friend that you might go to.
The other way we can help you is through direct communication in either of two ways: our telephone hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or with live chat through our website 1800runaway.org By using either of these, we can listen to you and help you with what you are going through.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely, NRS

[Guest]

Can I move out 2 months be I turn 18

[ccsmod15]

Hey there. Well, we never tell anyone what to do, but we can provide you with some information. Technically, until you are 18 you are under your parent's supervision. If you leave before then they can file a runaway report unless they give you permission to live elsewhere. That means that the police could detain you until they release you to your parents. Anyone you stay with could be accused of harboring a runaway, which is a crime. But sometimes the police don't take runaway reports for minors very close to turning 18. The best way to find out for sure is to call your local police non-emergency number and ask them if they take runaway reports for 17 year olds.

We'd like to help out further if we can. The best way for us to do that is for you to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or contact us through our chat button on at www.1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon!

Take care and be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi, I’m 17 and I live in Las Vegas. I turn 18 in 15 days and I already have a job that I’m getting officially hired on my birthday and I already have a studio that I can stay in without paying rent for the first month until I get my first paycheck. Can I move out before I turn 18 without getting into legal problems?

[ccsmod3]

Thank you for reaching out to us. It sounds like you have a really thought out a plan to move and become independent. You seem concerned about any legal issues you would run into leaving your home at 17. We are not legal experts but typically when you are 17 you are still considered a minor so your parents could technically file a runaway report. If your parents file a runaway report, do the police will usually return you to the home if they locate you. In your case, because you are so close to 18 the police will rarely do anything. If you want to be sure you can always contact your local non-emergency number and ask the protocol. If you have any more questions feel free to contact us at 1800-RUNAWAY.

[Guest]

I'm 17 and will be 18 in about 4 to 3 months, I can't handle living at my house anymore, there is almost always fighting. I'm watching my niece and nephew as soon as I get home from school until I try to sleep and get screamed at for trying to. I am made to do every chore everyday, when my brother lives with who is too lazy to take care of his own clothes and dishes. Every day I dread coming home because I'm scared I'm going to get screamed at, can I leave now and not get in trouble? I really can't handle my family anymore, all I am to them is a slave, they owe me over 2,000 dollars. I want out

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

Thanks so much for reaching out. It sounds like you’re in a very overwhelming situation at home, so it’s great that you’re looking for some support. Your family seems to be putting an awful lot of strain and unfair responsibility on you. That must be very stressful.

As for running away, doing so would not be illegal, but it would be considered a status offense. That means that your parents could file a runaway report and the police could find you and bring you back home. Also, the person you end up staying with could get charged with harboring a runaway. That said, it’s possible that the police would not respond to a report as you are almost eighteen. We can’t guarantee what would happen either way, but it might be helpful to contact your local non-emergency police line and ask how they would respond to a situation like this.

If you have any more questions about your options, or simply want to talk about anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-786-2929. Someone is always here to listen and to help. If you’d rather not talk on the phone, you can use our chat service at 1800runaway.org.

Thanks again for reaching out. We hope to hear from you soon.

[Guest]

Hi I'm a female 17 year old I'm turning 18 in 11 days and my family doesn't really care about the fact that I have depression and that I have PTSD my mother brings up the fact that I choose bad men for me and that I would never succeed can I move out legally right now without getting in trouble by the police??

[ccsmod0]

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. Because you are so close to 18, the police might not actually go out looking for you, but we can't say that for sure. 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. We could also help you find counseling services in your area if that is something you would like to look into for you depression and PTSD.
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