Can I move out 2 months before I turn 18?

[Guest]

hi i am 17 and will be 18 in 6 days and i was wanting to know if i could leave home ahaed of time

[ccsmod15]

Hello, thanks for reaching out. It sounds like you are feeling pretty anxious about making this change and are feeling some urgency about wanting to escape your current situation. Your safety is the most important thing to consider. Please reach out to the police or use another resource to get help if you feel threatened or physically unsafe.

The police response to a 17 year old leaving home will vary based on your state laws and also the specific protocols of your local government. Since it is a matter of days until you are a legal adult, it is unlikely that you will face the same legal repercussions as if you were a minor runaway that was much younger. It is possible they will look at how close you are to 18, and go ahead and work with you. But technically speaking, your parents are your legal guardians until the day you turn 18. So if they are really adamant about you staying, that might impact the strictness of the law enforcement you interact with.

This probably doesn’t seem like a straight-forward answer, and that can be frustrating. If you would like to talk about this further or explore more of your options, please give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY, or use our online chat option at www.1800runaway.org

We wish you the very best of luck; please reach out if we can be of further help.

[Guest]

i am 17 and in less than a week will be graduated and in 50 days will be 18 and my house is toxic and literally killing me. will i get arrested for leaving ?

[ccsmod15]

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. 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 forum 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

[Guest]

Hello I am 17 and I turn 18 in 5 weeks can I leave my home prior to having almost one month left ? I am planning to leave to my dads he don’t have full custody of me but I just can’t take it anymore with my mom which she has full custody of me and want to go with my dad would I get in trouble if I leave one month before I turn 18 with my dad ?

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,



Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes a lot courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like things at home are not so great right now and that living there no longer feels like a good option.

Regarding staying with your dad, since you are still under the age of 18, your mom can still technically file a runaway report. Running away is not illegal but it is a status offense (something you cannot do because of your age). If your mom were to file a runaway report, then you could be found by the police and returned home. Also, there are laws about harboring runaways, so while this is rarer, you should know that it is possible for your dad to get in trouble if your mom files a runaway report. You can, however, with the permission of your mom stay with your dad.

We recognize the complexity of your situation as you are about to turn 18 and once you do so, you will be able to make decisions on your own. It is important to note that we are not legal experts and cannot say for sure what would happen if you leave before turning 18. That being said, we can talk through some options if that is something that interests you.

We are here to support you 24/7. If you would like to talk in more detail, please contact NRS either by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chatting online through 1800runaway.org.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 17 and turn 18 in 2 months. I live with my dad in Ohio along with my step mom and step brother but things there have been getting out of hand and has been messing with my mental health. My dad refuses to help with it, and refuses to get me tested with ADHD and Autism as I'm showing symptoms and signs. He also refuses to help me get braces (I've needed them and asked for them since I was 8 year's old) and doesn't even try to get an appointment set up. I've also been having issues with my foot and I need surgery to fix it up, but he refuses to help me with that as well. I've been wanting to move in with my mom for year's now that she's got a stable job and a living space with enough rooms, but he's refused to let me move in and using his usual excuses that make no sense despite me being able to take care of myself (he's neglected me several times so I've had to fend for myself and take care of my well being). I've thought that since its a short amount of time before I turn 18, I could move in with my mom 2 months earlier and finish school at a school I use to go to and it not be as much of an issue since she's my guardian as well, so I wouldn't be left without someone helping me with school and getting ready for a place of my own. He was filed under neglect by CPS and despite my pleas for help, they refused to help me because I "didn't have proof" when I didn't know how to get the proof I needed. My mom has told me once I moved in, she would help me get braces and try her best to help me get surgery. She told me she'd get me to see someone and get tested for ADHD and Autism. Would I be able to accomplish this without getting in trouble with the law since she's my parent and since I'm old enough to make my own choices?

[ccsmod3]

Hi there, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you are experiencing multiple forms of neglect from your dad and you do not deserve to be treated this way. It also is wrong that CPS said they couldn’t help as there was no proof, because it seems like there is proof with not getting you tested/or setting up doctor appointments for you. It does seem like mom could be a better option and glad that she is willing to take you in and help you get the things taken care of that you need to. We are not legal experts, so cannot give a definite answer, but if mom has custody/guardianship too, it would seem like you would be able to stay there with no repercussions. We can look for a legal resource that would be able to give more direction on that or another option is to contact your local police department to get their advice on it and if they would ultimately bring you back to your dad or not.
If you would like to talk more about this with us or other possible options, please call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi 16 but im planning on leaving home two days before i turn 18 i want to know what may happen will they search for me or the police get involve i wish i could become independent but my mother is to strict to make me do stuff and i dont get to enjoy life i try standing up for my self but it just leads me to lecture and say how bad of a daughter i am im tired of her having high expectations of me i already have were to move and the money i know im not doing nothing wrong but im afraid if i stay older i will end up traumatized and mentally damage i just want to know what will happen if i leave 2 days before i turn 18

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thanks for reaching out; we are glad that you did. We cannot say for certain what would happen if you left 2 days before turning 18. It depends on whether your mom would file a runaway report with police and whether police would take it in that time frame. There isn't a way for anyone to know what either of them will do.
It sounds like you are in a very strict household, with your mom controlling you. That's very hard and stressful, for sure.
Since you are still 16 and have some time there, we hope you will reach out to us so that we can better support you. We work best with people when we can have a conversation about your situation.
You can chat us through this website or call our hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY. We are here for you 24/7 and we truly hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello. I’m 17 I turn 18 in two months. My family constantly degrades me and verbally abuses me. I have tried to leave before but eventually came back home out of fear of what would happen to who I was going to stay with. Could I legally move out now and no one get in trouble?

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline today. We’re very sorry to hear that you are in such a difficult situation. You do not deserve to be degraded or verbally abused under any circumstances. You deserve to feel supported and cared for in your own home. You ask about leaving home before you turn 18. As you may be aware, 18 is the age of majority in most states. This is when you can legally move out without your parent or guardian’s permission. To check your state, you can go to www.sexetc.org. That being said, you may want to contact your local police and ask how they might handle this type of situation. It varies from department to department when the young adult is nearing their 18th birthday.

Regardless of your age, your safety is very important to us here at NRS. If you can give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat with us at www.1800RUNAWAY.org, we can discuss your thoughts, feelings and plans to ensure that you stay safe. We can also talk about your concerns for those you might be staying with. NRS also has a large database of resources that you might find helpful. We are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. We’re here to listen and to help. We hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,

NRS