Can I move out 2 months before I turn 18?

[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

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?

[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

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

[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

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?

[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

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 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

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]

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.

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

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension. It sounds like there's been a lot of moving parts lately and that it's really overwhelming and frustrating.

It definitely sounds like you are in a sticky situation from a legal standpoint. It may be a good idea for you and your mom petition for her to get custody of you again. You may also want to speak with a legal aid group that may be better equipped to explain any limitations currently set on you by the court. If you need help locating a legal aid group near you you can check out https://www.lawhelp.org/find-help/.

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.

Stay safe,
NRS

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Hey I am 17 years old. I recently got into some legal trouble in December, and than ran away in between my court dates a month ago, and my parents reported me missing, my dad started texting my boyfriend, and close friends. My boyfriend felt it was right to call my dad and let him know where I was. My dad called the police to get me, they came and got me and I went to the police station until my dad came and got me. I thought I was going back to my moms house the place I¨ve stayed at most of my life, but no. My dad told me last minute in the car after screaming in my face and shaking me, that I was going to live with him. I was crying, nervous, anxious, and torn. I used to hate being with my dad when I was a little kid. In knew this wasnt going to be ideal for me.

Anyways, I´m not allowed according to my dads rules to see anyone on my mom´s side right now, because he says they are bad influences and we cannot be trusted together, but again me and my dad went through a phase where i didn't contact him much or see him for 2 years maybe more. I haven't been to his house for a while. I dont even have a full bedroom here, I share it with my siblings play room. He doesnt know how me and my mom, and gramma were together he never saw us together. They arent the reasons I made bad choices. I regret all I did. My dad seems to just pick on me for it, and say im a criminal and all this. He hardly lets me talk to my family on my moms side, he makes fun of them, and now is trying to make me sell some of my stuff from over there, and keeps acting like my step mom doesnt want me here in there house, and says im doing everything wrong. He wont let me get a job right now or go back to in-person school, plus says im not going to college and i wont make it or pass and all this stuff. I rlly dont want to be here but legally i have to because i have court coming up in a week, and will be punisments from it like probation maybe or worse.

Anyways can I move out after my probation is done if I´m not 18.

[ccsmod13]

Thank you for reaching out to NRS!

You are very strong for reaching out about what you have been going through. You never deserve to be treated that way by your father.

Even though you are about to turn 18, one option you always have is to report the abuse that you have been experiencing. A resource that could be helpful is Childhelp. They provide support to those living in abusive situations. Their hotline is (800) 422-4453 and their website is www.childhelp.org/. Even if you choose not to report, they have resources that may be beneficial to you.

Although we aren’t legal experts, if you choose to leave home before you are legally considered an adult, your dad could choose to file a runaway report. This means that if the police find where you are, they could choose to return you back to your father. They could also choose to charge your grandpa with harboring a runaway. If you have you father’s permission to stay with your grandpa, you would be able to go and live with him. An important thing for you to consider is how your father will react if you choose to leave, including if you think he will file a runaway report.

If you would like us to help you contact law enforcement in your area to find out more information about their policies, you will need to call into our hotline 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat feature on our website so we can learn a little more about your situation. We are available 24/7 to listen and provide support, so feel free to reach out!

Stay safe,
NRS