Running away to a friends house

[Guest]

Hi i am 17 and planing on running away voluntarily. I have a frinds house she said i can stay over. Would i or my friends parents get introuble? I was planning on never coming back home its to many problems

[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]

im mentally stable and wanna run away from home i have someone who is willing to take care of me but i heard they might get in trouble they have a guardian that is 18+ i would like to go there but i have no clue what happens if the police find me or if my parents do (i dont know if im posting this on the right thing or as a reply)

[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]

11 and wants to runaway to my dads house

i live with my mum and step dad and it has been emotionally and mentally draining,my stepdad is abusive and my mum is minipulative and uses my depression as a joke.The result of this is me considering to commit scuicide and consuming achohol,living in pain and loneliness everyday.I want to instead run away to my dads house,but he has lost his privelage to be my caretaker/gardian since he has not economically supported me.I want to ask is it possible for my dad to gain that privelage back and get a restraining order from my mum and hopefuly get a therapist to treat my ptsd.I live in newzealand and i dont know how i can use the reason of mental,emotional abuse as enough reason for my dad to get that privelage,since my mum can take me back by stating she supported me economically more so she can have the right to "own" .me.please help!!!!!!!!

[ccsmod0]

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are in a difficult situation, and we understand it takes courage to reach out for help. The National Runaway Safeline is located in the United States of America (USA). Our knowledge of helpful community based resources and our understanding of youth in crisis related laws is limited to the USA. If you are located in a country outside of the USA, you can use this link to find a youth helpline in or around your country: https://www.childhelplineinternation...pline-network/.

We hope that by reaching out to a local resource, you are able to get the support you need from an organization that understands the laws and circumstances that affect youth in your country.

[Guest]

I'm almost fifteen years old and I feel unsafe sometimes at my house and I'm unsure if I should run away or stay put and deal with this, here are some things that I go through at home: body shaming and bullying, and on some occasions physical abuse from my little brother. He throws these major temper tantrum and usually I end up getting beaten up, and most of the time he draws blood or just leaves me bruised. What should I do now?

[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. 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).

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

[Guest]

hi I can't deal with the home life I currently have and I want to live with a friend for a while until I'm ready to go back but before I want to go I want to make sure that my friends family won't get into any legal troubles and that my family won't be sucked into any legal problems because my family is divorced and I live with my mum and I'm worried that because of the divorce some legal issues might be taken into consideration and I don't want to go back to my dad.

I'm currently 13 and live in NSW Australia.

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are in a difficult situation, and we understand it takes courage to reach out for help. The National Runaway Safeline is located in the United States of America (USA). Our knowledge of helpful community based resources and our understanding of youth in crisis related laws is limited to the USA. If you are located in a country outside of the USA, you can use this link to find a youth helpline in or around your country: https://www.childhelplineinternation...pline-network/.

We hope that by reaching out to a local resource, you are able to get the support you need from an organization that understands the laws and circumstances that affect youth in your country.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

hi i am 13 and want to run away. my parents are abusive and treat me poorly and they make my suicidal thoughts worse. i want to live with my uncle, or a friend. i live in canada, ontario. is there any legal issues? will i be sent back? will anyone get in trouble?

[ccsmod8]

Hello Sabrina -

We’re so sorry to hear that you’re going through this. You do not deserve to be treated that way by any means and it’s brave of you to reach out to talk about this. While we are more than happy to be here for you, the majority of our resources and information is about services and laws in the United States. That being said, there is a service like ours in Canada that can give you more information about resources and legality in your particular area. The name is Kids Help Phone. Their website is (https://kidshelpphone.ca/) and their number is (800-668-686. They have a similar service where you can email them too. We hope that you find this helpful.

Again, we’re so sorry to hear you’re going through all of this. We wish you the best of luck.

[Guest]

hi im 11 years old and my house is ALFAL i have no good life i do cheer but my mom see that im ugly and fat so my plan is to go to my famliy of best friends but who know

[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. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
The easiest way to leave home is with your parents' permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your parents. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.
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 would like to look into further emotional support options, you can text with a crisis worker at the National Alliance on Mental Illness 24/7 by texting "NAMI" to 741741.
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]

I am 10. my life is pretty good I live in a nice house with my parents. But I wanna live with my friend her prents hav 0 rules amd dat is wat I want but she lives in a diffrent state so I could use some help

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. We are happy to hear that you have a good life and live in a nice house, but we understand you wanting to live with a friend.

One option to consider is asking your parents if you can visit your friend or have your friend come to visit you. We are not legal experts but if you were to leave without permission your legal guardian could file a runaway report. If the police were to find you they most likely would bring you back home.

We would like to talk more about your situation, we are here 24/7 to talk and provide you with support. If you have any more questions or would like to talk more give us a call. Best of luck
NRS

[Guest]

runaway

hi. so i dont think im being treated fairly at home. my parents are constantly fighting with eachother and then they misdirect their anger towards me. its nothing physical, i just feel attacked. these problems at home have led to a lot of depression and sadness. what i wanted to do was run away to my friends house but only a few hours. im not planning on staying there for very long, i just need to get out for a little bit. im 15 and i live in Cheyenne, WY. i was wondering if there are any legal consequences i should be concerned about.

[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. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
The easiest way to leave home is with your parents' permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your parents. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.
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 would like to look into further emotional support options, you can text with a crisis worker at the National Alliance on Mental Illness 24/7 by texting "NAMI" to 741741.
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]

hi i am 14 and my step dad is abusing and today he left a actual bruise and i’ve been thinking about running for awhile to my friends and i live in michagan i just wanna know if anyone can get in trouble

[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. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do. No one deserves to be abused for any reason and your stepdad's actions are absolutely unacceptable. If you are currently at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it. 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.

Stay safe,
NRS

We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to support youth and families. Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

Trying to help my friend

Hello, I'm 12 And my friend is also 12. (My friends age is important). I'm not the one who wants to run away, but my friend does, And her situation is bad. And seeing her cry and like this really does pain me. School isn't anything better. I tried helping her run away when I first met her but my mom is from Mexico so that situation had to be stopped. And I wanna buy a house so we can live in it but I can't right now. I live in USA, NJ. Is there anything that I could help my friend, i don't wanna see her suffer anymore

[ccsmod13]

Hi, thank you for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline.

It sounds like there is a lot going on in your friend’s life, so it is very helpful that you are doing your best to look out for her. You are a good friend for working to help her be safe and healthy. It can be difficult to feel as though there is nothing you can do directly to help. However, being there to listen to her and help her get help is very important. We aren’t legal experts, but in the state of New Jersey, anyone who is under the age of 18 can only go and stay somewhere else if they have their parents’/guardians’ permission. If your friend chooses to leave home without their permission, her parents/guardians could have her returned to them.

One option that you both have is to reach out to an adult that you trust to tell them what is going on and how she is feeling at home. This could be another family member, a teacher, a counselor, a coach, or someone else that you or her can trust. Another option that you have is to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 to help us better understand the situation your friend is in so that we can help. You can also participate in a live chat with someone at National Runaway Safeline under the “Chat” tab on our website: https://www.1800runaway.org/ You are brave for seeking out options to help your friend through her tough situation. Feel free to reach out 24/7 through the chat or by calling us. We are here to listen and provide support at any time.

[Guest]

Hello,
I'm 16 and I live in the state of Maryland. My home life is terrible and I want to know if I can run off to my friends house and stay there without my mom's permission. Any place is better than here, and his family is okay with me staying there. Is this okay? They won't get in legal trouble right? My mom can't force me to come back until I'm ready?

[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]

Help


I want to run away to my friends house, I love my mom so much but when she gets mad she says some words that break me. I have been thinking about this for awhile now, she lives close to me. But I just turned 12 so I don't want to cause any bad things. What do I do?

[ccsmod15]

First of all, thank you so much for reaching out today. Asking for help can take a lot of courage. It sounds really difficult to hear your mom saying things that break you and don’t feel so good.

In terms of running away, it is legal for a youth to do so. However, if your mom decides to, she can file a runaway report and the police may go looking for you. If they do find you, the police will most likely try to bring you back home.

You mention that you love your mom a lot. One option we have at NRS is a conference call. To use that service, you would call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY, tell the liner your situation and the liner would help mediate a conversation between you and your mom. This may help you to have a productive conversation with your mom and tell her how you feel. It is completely up to you to decide to use this service.

Lastly, you are welcome to contact us through pressing the “chat” button at 1800runaway.com or call at 1-800-RUNAWAY anytime. We are available 24/7 and would be happy to talk through your situation more in depth and offer resources. Please do not hesitate to reach out.

Best of luck and stay strong,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi,
I was wondering, being the age of 17 in Tennessee, If i left to a friends house (without the permission of my parents) would i be considered a runaway? Would the family get in trouble even though I was the one who want to get out of the house and pretty much forced myself into their home because i had left with nowhere else to go? I'm a little worried because this event already took place, but i don't want the family into trouble.

[ccsmod9]

Thank you for contacting NRS,
We appreciate you reaching out to us. We are sorry that home was not a place where you felt comfortable. It must feel really hurtful to know that. You mentioned that you ran away to a friend's house and have since been there. Some things we want to review with you are the basic runaway laws. If you are under the age of 18 you techincally are still considered a minor in the eyes of the law. So if you did runaway your parents would have the right to file you as a runaway. Once that happens the police would be looking for you. Anyone who houses you has the potential to be charged with harboring a runaway. Penalties for that can be different in any state.

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 12 years old and I want to runaway to my best friends house for a while. My parents verbally and physically abuse me and my sister who is 14. I want to go to my friends house who lives close but we are worried that they might get in trouble for "smuggling" a runaway. I live in Washington, DC. Please help.

[ccsmod8]

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline. We recognize the courage it took to reach out for help and support. It sounds like you and your sister are in a very challenging situation, and you and your sister don't deserve to ever be treated in an abusive manner.

If you choose leave without your parents' permission, they may file a runaway report. It is not illegal to leave; it's considered a status offense, and if you're found by the police, they may bring you back to your parents. Typically, states have "harboring runaway" laws, which does not allow for people to knowingly shelter minors without parental consent. However, Washington D.C. does not consider this a crime unless you have been placed there by the Board of Public Welfare.

Running away is a big decision, and we can help you consider other factors that might influence your decision. If you'd like explore this and identify any other options available, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-292) or via instant chat at 1800runaway.org. We're here 24/7 and ready to listen and to help.