im 16 & might be pregnant. can I move out at 17 and live with my boyfriend?

[Unregistered]

Hi, I'm currently 16 and im a month late on my period. Ive taken a test and it came out positive. So I took another one and It came out negative. I'm waiting to take another test but ive been having signs of early pregnancy . if I am pregnant, is it okay for me to move out of my parents home with out there permission in the state of Texas with out being considered a runaway?

[ccsmod14]

Re: im 16 & might be pregnant. can I move out at 17 and live with my boyfriend?

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you have got a lot going on right now but you're trying to make plans accordingly which is a great step to take. You asked about moving out of your parents house. There are a few things that might be helpful to think about while you try to decide what to do: Do you have another safe place in mind that you would want to stay at/does your boyfriend have his own place, or would you stay with his family? Would your long term plan be to stay at the alternative living arrangement until you were old enough to live on your own?
If you leave without permission from your parents, it is technically considered running away. If your parents were to file a runaway report, typically all that happens is if the police find you, they just bring you back home. Running away is not illegal, it is considered a status offense so it's similar to something like a parking ticket.
It sounds like you think you might be pregnant but are unsure of what to do at this point. Have you talked to anyone about this? One resource we'd like to provide to you is Planned Parenthood, (1 800 230 7526). This might be a helpful resource in discussing your options; discussing the possibile outcomes with each choice that you have as well as how to go about talking to your parents regarding pregnancy.
Another option that you have is conference calling. Here at NRS, we offer conference calling between youth and guardians. This means that if you were to call into our hotline, we could make a call out to a guardian and conduct a conference call between the two of you to act as a facilitator to mediate the conversation, and make sure everyone is getting an equal opportunity to speak.
Please call into our anonymous and confidential hotline at 1 800 RUNAWAY (786 2929), or join us on chat, open 4:30pm to 11:30pm CST if you would like discuss your specific situation further or you would like other resources.

We wish you the best of luck,
NRS

[Unregistered]

I'm 15 about to be 16 I might be pregnant

I might be pregnant and I'm 15 turning 16 and I want to move out but I don't know how
My parents feels about it what will happen if I just run away I live in San Diego

[ccsmod15]

Re: im 16 & might be pregnant. can I move out at 17 and live with my boyfriend?

We're glad you reached out to us. We'll try to help you. It sounds like you are feeling insecure and would like to move out. We're not legal experts but running away is not a crime. However if your parents file a runaway report, the police can look for you. If they find you they may return you home. Have you thought of talking to your parents about your situation? It's understandable that you're worried about their reaction. It's not easy to have such a burden hanging over you. You might also want to talk to a family member or friend about your situation. If you'd like to explore more options we can always call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. We are here 24//7 and are confidential.

[Guest]

Hey. I'm 16. I might be pregnant I'm waiting on blood test results cuz I haven't missed my period . I've had issues with cops before . It would be my third time leaving. We have an acs case that will be open for six months. .. what would happen if I left an didn't come back home. Would they be able to arrest me?
I would be living with a very close friend
Safe

[ccsmod0]

Hello, Thank you for taking the time to write to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you might be pregnant and you want to know if you are does that give you the right to be able to move. While we are not legal experts nor are we affiliated with the police so we can only speak generally about what could happen if a youth leaves home without the consent of a guardian. Leaving home without parental consent (running away) is not a crime, so the police will not arrest you. If you do leave home without permission your guardian does have the right to file a runaway report. Running away is not a crime it is a status offence (something that only a minor can get in trouble for: truancy, buying cigarettes, etc.) this means that if you have any interaction with the police they will simply return you home. On the other hand the people that you are found to be staying with could face legal consequences that vary depending on your state. You can find out more about how runaway’s reports are carried out by contacting your local police department. If you would like we could contact your local non-emergency number for you or with you. Just give us a call and one of our trained liners would be happy to assist you.
If you are pregnant, a good resource for you might be Planned Parenthood. They can provide you with health care options and ways to make sure that you and your baby are safe. Even if you aren’t pregnant, they can talk through with you ways to be safe if you have sex. Their number is 1-800-230-7526. Since because as we mentioned we are not legal experts so we cannot say what your right may or may not be if you do turn out to be a teen parent.
It sounds like you're going through a lot, and we hope everything works out. As I mentioned, if you need resources that can help you figure out what your next steps should be, or just have further questions or want to talk, you are welcome to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat service. Take care.

[Guest]

Hi I don't know if I am pregnant but I am 16 and my boyfriend is 17 can I move in with him with out my mom and dad saying

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Hi I don't know if I am pregnant

Hello,
Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.

In most states 18 years old is the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian.
A person under the age of 18 leaving home without permission, a 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.

The easiest way to leave home is with your parent’s permission.
We understand that might be challenging.
You might also consider looking into emancipation options or teen transitional living programs.
For emancipation 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.
If you should be pregnant there may be options for transitional living programs for pregnant or parenting teens in your area.

NRS has a national data base and can help explore some of these options for services in your area.

Please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or www.1800Runaway.org (Live chat).

Take care,

NRS

[Guest]

I am a 17 year old runaway. I've been a runaway for a year and a half. I found out that I was pregnant a little over a month ago. But I will be giving birth when am almost 18 or already 18 years old. I am planning on telling my mom. Is it possible for here to drop the report of me being a runaway? Because I don't have any of my papers to go to a check up at a doctor.

[ccsmod6]

Hi,

Thanks so much for taking the time to reach out today. It's really responsible for you to think about doctors appointments and check ups for your child! If your mom wants to she can drop the runaway report, but that is only if she personally chooses to. When you turn 18 the runaway report becomes automatically void.

If you need anymore help or have anymore questions please feel free to reach out to us again. We are 24/7 so you can always call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY, someone will always be here to answer.

[Guest]

Im 16 finna be 17 but im pregnant can i move with my boyfriend an his mom

[ccsmod7]

Hello there, thanks for reaching out today. Sounds like you are in a tricky situation and wanting to live with your boyfriend's mom due to your pregnancy.

Generally, 18 is the age were you are considered an adult and can move out without your guardian's permission. Your pregnancy typically does not emancipate you or automatically make you an adult. We are not legal experts here at NRS, and this is dependent on your state's laws. You might reach out to a local legal agency to ask about your rights as a pregnant 16 year old close to turning 17. We have legal aid resources here if you ever need any, please call or chat us for those resources.

The easiest way you can leave home at 16/17 years old is with your guardian's permission. It is legal for you to stay in any safe place that they are okay with you staying at. If you leave without permission, that's when your guardian can file a runaway report for you with local police and if you are found you typically would be returned home. Running away is usually considered a status offense or something you cannot do due to your age. However, if a legal adult knowingly shelters you while you are a runaway they could be at risk of being charged with harboring a runaway by your guardian; which is a misdemeanor. Aside from gaining permission to leave, there might be other options for you depending on your situation. Please do not hesitate to call or chat us if you would like to talk through your situation and help with brainstorming your options.

It was incredibly brave of you to reach out and it seems like you might be dealing with a whole lot right now. If you haven't already, it can be a good idea to make sure that you are pregnant and if you have already done that, to obtain prenatal care. If you have any questions around your reproductive healthcare, you might call or chat with the expert health care providers at Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/online-tools/chat or 1-800-230-7526. You should not have to through this alone.

Please call or chat us so we can best help! We look forward to hearing from you.

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: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think.

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

Hey I am 17 pregnant I know for sure im 2 months and a week ,test were done and my mom knows, I have a bad issues with my mom we don't get along my boyfriend has his own place, stable job so do I, my mom isn't as nice to me she will do anything to make me not happy for what I wanna do Wich is move out, is their a way I can leave without her permission and not get sent back home with her even tho I'm pregnant ..summer is coming I have nothing to do at this house no more just staying with her and having issues all the time I'm tired of being here with her and I need advice ...I'm I considered as an adult and can leave home? From the state of California from long beach

[ccsmod10]

Hey 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 bit about your situation.

It sounds like you and your mom don’t have the best relationship, it must be really scary to be pregnant and knowing how your mom will react. We offer a conference calling service, between youth and their parents. If you ever wanted our help talking to your mom about moving in with your boyfriend and that you’re pregnant, we're always here to make that call with you.

Only your legal guardian, can give you permission to move out or to report you as a runaway. If your mom does have legal guardianship of you and doesn’t give you permission to live with your boyfriend or his sister, then she can report you as a runaway. If you feel like getting out of the house is the best option and you decide to run away, we can explain what usually happens. We’re not legal experts, but from our general knowledge, running away is not illegal. If you runaway, your mom can make a runaway report. The police don't always actively look for you, if they come across you, then they usually bring you home. If you explain to them that home isn't a safe place to be, they don't always return you right away. They're supposed to investigate it first. We offer to call out to youth’s local police, with youth, to find out their protocols. You mentioned that you have a boyfriend who’s offering to take you in, we’re so glad to hear that you have someone who is supportive. Regarding him getting into trouble, there is a misdemeanor charge called “harboring a runaway”. It’s really not common and it costs money for parents to take those people to court. We rarely hear about people getting into trouble for letting a runaway stay with them.

We also have legal aid resources in our database. While we’re not law experts, we can try to find one in your area, there may be legal ways for you to be able to move out of your house. We’re here to try to brainstorm options with you.

We hope our response is helpful. Also, talking to school counselors and teachers about what’s going on at home could provide you with great support. You are not alone in this. You are always welcome to call into our 24/7 crisis center if you'd like to talk more about your situation.

Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 15 and I turn 16 in August my bf cummed in me a week ago and my dad said if I’m pregnant he doesn’t know where I’m gonna live and no one is supporting me idk what to do I feel like killing myself because no one cares and I have no where to go

[ccsmod7]

Hi, it sounds like you’re going through so much, thank you for reaching out to us today, it took a lot of courage. First and foremost, if you’re feeling suicidal, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a support hotline staffed with trained counselors who can talk to you about these feelings and provide you with resources and coping strategies. Their number is 1-800-273-8255, and they also have a website: suicideprentionlifeline.org.

As far as whether you’re pregnant, it’s probably too early to know at this point, but there are options and tests available to you and you can communicate with women’s health organizations like Planned Parenthood about how to find resources, support, and stay as anonymous as possible. Their number is 1-800-230-7526. There are sites like sexetc.org, dedicated to providing detailed, quality sex education anonymously as well, that might have some more resources or information you could find.

If it does turn out you are pregnant, then you can always reach out to us and we can help you find more local resources for pregnant teens. I can see that you are feeling a little hopeless now, but know that there are a lot resources out there for you. What you’re going through would be really scary and lonely for anyone, but we are here to listen, provide you support, and you are not alone. Please call us anytime, we’re available 24/7 and we’re here to help.

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: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think.

[Guest]

What if you already had a baby and your 17 and want to live with the baby’s father and he’s 18 my friend is trying to find out and they don’t give her an answer

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thanks for reaching out on behalf of your friend. In most states, the age of majority is 18 so your friend would need permission from her parents or guardians in order to live with her baby’s father. Otherwise, your friend’s guardians would have the right to file a runaway report and if the police are able to find her they may return her home. Sometimes, though, the police decide to just leave 17-year-old runaways where they are. Unfortunately we aren’t able to predict how your police will respond beyond giving this general information.

NRS

[Guest]

Hi im 16 a few weeks from being 17 can i move in with my boyfriend he is 17 going on 18 too a few days after mine would i have to take it to court or something

[ccsmod6]

Hi there, Thanks for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline and sharing a little bit about what is going. While we are not legal experts, we do have a general interpretation of how runaway protocol functions in the United States. Usually, so long as you are a minor, you are obligated to live where your legal guardian decides. In some states/cities this is sometimes not the case. If you call in to 1-800-RUNAWAY we could can discuss more in detail how we can best support you through this situation. Stay strong! You are not alone in this and we are here 24/7.
-NRS

[Guest]

Hey, my girlfriend is 15 and she will be turning 16 In July and I’m 17 about turn 18 in May and I think she is pregnant she is having a lot of the symptoms like 90% of them But would she be able to move in with me and move out of her parents house?

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Hey, my girlfriend is 15...

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.
18 years old is generally the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian. 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.
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 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.

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