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

[Guest]

I'm really just trying to look fro a straight froward answer. i'm pregnant and I'm 16 years old i turn 17 February 26 i was wondering if i could leave home with out getting in trouble . i plan on staying with my boyfriend his parents said i can stay as long as i help around the house and help pay a small amount of rent i don't want my parents to know though

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’ve been going through a tough time, but we are here to support you and help you in any way we can.

We’re not legal experts here at NRS. Generally it’s not illegal to leave home, but your mom could file a runaway report, the police could get involved, and they could bring you home. The people you’re staying with could potentially get in trouble for having you stay there. Some police departments don’t accept runaway reports for 17 year olds, but the policies may vary by each department. You could consider calling your local nonemergency police department to ask about their policies. We also have legal aid resources here if you have specific questions about the laws in your state.

If you haven’t already, you could consider reaching out to a trusted adult, relative, worker/teacher/counselor at your school for help and support. You could also consider talking to your parents about how you’ve been feeling. Just so you’re aware, we have a conference calling service here where we could help mediate a conversation between you and your parents.

If you need resources related to your pregnancy, you could consider contacting Planned Parenthood at 1-800-230-7526; plannedparenthood.org. There are also many resources that could help you with anything else you may need. If you want to talk more about what’s been going on, or if you would like more information about resources, you can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or chat with us online.

Again, thank you for contacting us. It sounds like you’ve been going through a really hard time, but you’ve shown a lot of strength by working through these challenges and reaching out for help. If you ever need anything in the future, please feel free to call us or chat with us online. We’re always here to listen and here to help.

[Guest]

Hello, I am 17 years and in Oklahoma, I am a Senior in High School. I live with my boyfriend, but recently he wants to move to Florida to work. I have my parents permission to live with him, but can I move with my boyfriend to Florida without their permission? He is 21 years old and we already have a place to stay over their.

[ccsmod2]

Hi there, thanks for contacting National Runway Safeline. We are happy to answer the questions and concerns you have. At 17, you are still considered a minor in your state. This means that, by law, you will need your parent’s consent to live from under their supervision. You mentioned that your parents have already given you permission to live with your boyfriend but, based on what you’re saying it appears they are unaware of your desire to live out of state with your boyfriend. It may be beneficial to communicate this issue with your parents. At any point before you are of legal age your parents are legally able to determine where you live and if they are opposed to you living out of state but, you choose to leave without their consent that does pose some risks which include being filed as a runaway even though you have already been given permission to live with your boyfriend. You also mentioned that you are a senior in high school. If you plan to continue and complete high school it may be beneficial to determine (if you do not plan to complete high school before leaving) how you will go about enrolling into school somewhere else. At 17, you would not only need a permanent address to enroll into school but, you will also need your parent’s permission and assistance. We hope that this information was beneficial to you. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to give us a call at our 24/7 hotline 1800-RUNWAY or contact us by visiting our website 1800runaway.org

[Guest]

Hey I’m 17 & pregnant but I’ll be 18 in 6 months and my parents don’t let me out , if I leave with my boyfriend would I still be consider runaway ,oh if the cops find me what happens .

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to listen and here to help. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now. We are not legal experts but we will do our best to help you. In most states the legal age to leave home without consent is 18 years old, so yes you could still be considered a runaway. One option is you could try and ask your parents’ permission, they may let you live with your boyfriend once the baby arrives. Another option is to call your non-emergency police department and see how they would handle the situation, you could even call them anonymously. If the police found you they would most likely bring you back home, you would probably not be in legal trouble.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore your options further please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and provide support fo you. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Do you think you can help me ?

Hi im 16 going to be 17 in 2 months and im 13 weeks pregnant. My mom knows and so does my boyfriends parents. The only problem is they might be moving to another state in about a month from now. My mother gave me her permission but I don't know anything about moving to a new state and what I'll need. My boyfriends mom really wants me to go with them because she believes its best for the baby. Any advice or comments?

[ccsmod5]

Hi, there,
Thank you for your message. It sounds like you have a big decision to make and it’s smart of you to think about your options. We would be happy to help you think through your options and hopefully make the best decision for yourself. We are here 24/7 to listen and help in any way we can at 1-800-786-2929. In the meantime, some things you might want to look into are the following: schooling and registration, prenatal care/general medical care, and how you would navigate your relationship with your new housemates. Hoping to hear from you soon,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 17 and pregnant, can my mom keep me from seeing my boyfriend who got me pregnant? I live in Pierre South Dakota.

[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. As far as keeping you from your boyfriend she can if he is a 18 and older. Reason being he is an adult and technically she can call the cops because of it. 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]

I have a question I am 16 and pregnant my boyfriend is 17 what if I move out of town and go live with him and his mom in another city ?

[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. 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 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 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’m 16 and pregnant and got kicked out my house now I’m living with my boyfriend but how can I get checkups if I don’t got my birth certificate ID or anything to identify me. My question is how can I get checkups when I don’t got anything that’s needed to make an appointment?

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what's going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage to do so.  It's not OK for your dad to have thrown you out of the house and this can be considered neglect, which you have the right to report if you so choose.  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. Child Protective Services may also be helpful in you obtaining your identification paperwork.  

Pregnancy can often be overwhelming and creating a prenatal care plan can be a confusing process.  If you do not already have an obstetrician, you can contact Planned Parenthood by going to plannedparenthood.org or by calling 800-230-7526 for some assistance.  Your local Planned Parenthood should be able to provide pregnancy planning services, prenatal services, childbirth classes, and postpartum exams for after the baby comes.

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

[Guest]

i am 17 almost 18 and i'm 16 weeks pregnant ... can i move out of my parents house without their consent ?

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to us. First, we hope you are getting adequate care for your pregnancy. If you need any assistance or questions answered about pregnancy feel free to contact Planned Parenthood at https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

As for your question about leaving home: You are under your parent or legal guardian’s supervision until you are at least 18. If you leave home without permission before then, your parents could file a runaway report on you. Running away isn’t a crime, but it is a status offense like breaking curfew. If found, the police would likely bring you back home. Perhaps more seriously, anyone you stay with could be accused of harboring a runaway, which is a misdemeanor in most localities. We don’t share this information to persuade you in any way, but only to give you some things to think about.

We'd like to help out further but need a little more information from you to see how to assist. The best way to do that would be if you give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us via the portal at www.1800runaway.org. Please be safe. We hope to hear from you soon!

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 16 about to be 17 in December, my girlfriend is already 17 and she’s 5 months pregnant, is there any way I can get my Own place with my girl and we would be tight with money so what would we do besides jobs?? I live in the state of Florida.

[ccsmod4]

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. It sounds like you and your girlfriend have left your homes and are expecting a child. We understand that this presents a difficult situation for the two of you.
We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
NRS is here to listen and here to help.
We would be glad to speak with you about strategies or options that might help you to cope better with 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 about your situation and 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).

To locate emergency safe place shelter services check the link listed. www.nationalsafeplace.org

You did a wonderful job reaching out today. Good for you.
We look forward to hearing from you.


Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 2 months away from being 17 and i am pregnant. I get emotionally abused and it is not safe for me or my baby. what would happen if i leave home at 17? will i go to jail? would i go to juvie? will they let me stay where i am if i am safe?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for reaching out to NRS through our public forum-it takes a lot of courage to do so especially during this difficult time. We are very sorry that not only are you getting emotionally abused, but also have to take on motherly responsibilities at the same time. It must be very tough to deal with the abuse as well as thinking about the best future for your baby. Since you are so close to being 18 (keep in mind the age of majority in your state and what is stated in the law; it could be possible that the age of majority is 19 in your home state), it could work in your favor if police in your area are more lenient. Protocol can vary by state and even county so it is hard to say for sure. The general protocol and most likely scenario, however, is whoever you are staying with at home could file a runaway report on you and if the police do locate you, you would most likely be returned home. Turning to a trusted family member or friend to talk about what you are going through may help a bit, as well as seeking out help from staff at a planned parenthood to have that extra support could be helpful as well. Planned Parenthood can offer low cost and even free services (www.plannedparenthood.org). If you would like to talk more in depth, please reach out to us directly at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We are here to help 24/7 to listen and help to the best of our ability.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 14 and pregnant my boyfriend is 17 and he lives in Bangladesh. I’m almost 5 weeks pregnant. I don’t know how to tell my family. His mom knows and so does his friends. I live in Wyoming. How can get checkups for the baby? I’m really scared to say something to my mom. She wont support me. What can I do?

[ccsmod13]

Thank you for contacting NRS. It sounds like you are going through a tough time and we’re glad you reached out to us.

Perhaps there is a trusted adult in your life you can talk to about this. Maybe a family member, teacher, or counselor. They may have advice or ideas that may be helpful to you.

Fortunately there are resources available that may be helpful to you. A potential resource is Planned Parenthood at www.plannedparenthood.org . Planned parenthood offers a wide variety of health services and may be able to offer advice that may be helpful to you. Planned Parenthood has no locations in Wyoming, but they may be able to direct you to other resources in your area.

Another potential resource is the Wyoming Health Council at www.wyhc.org. They provide a wide range of family planning and health resources similar to planned parenthood.

You can also always call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We have volunteers available 24/7 to talk and to help you find resources that may be helpful to you. Depending on where you live, there may be youth shelters or other resources available to support you.

Thank you again for contacting NRS. We wish you the best!

[Guest]

I’m 15 and currently have a 7 month baby I Will be 16 in 4 months... I’m in foster care and was placed with my aunt but right now things have took a shift. I’m so overwhelmed and depressed and just want to get out I have a safe place in mind to go but I don’t want any of my choices to affect my baby... what should I do if I ran would I get placed into placement.?

[ccsmod8]

Hello!

Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline. We can see you are going through a difficult time and are here to help you in any way we can. What you are going through is of importance to us and we want to help you in any way we can.

You mentioned that you are feeling overwhelmed and depressed. Your mental health is a priority so that you can take care of yourself and your baby. Running away from home is a really big step to take and you want to be sure that your plan is solid in-case anything does go wrong. You are not only have to think about your own safety, but you have to think about what is going to be best for your seven month old child as well. You stated that things at your current place have just started to shift. It could be helpful to open up about those shifts you feel with your Aunt so that everyone is on the same page. Being a mother is certainly challenging for sure and you might be struggling with issues that someone else can't physically see.

Now we do offer a service that is basically a Conference Call where the parent/guardian, the youth, and us would be on the phone talking about what has been going on. It might be a great way to talk about what you are going through and where this feelings might be coming from or to maybe build on your relationship and make it better. So maybe that might be an option for you and your Aunt. Something constructive so that it certainly opens the lines of communication, but that services is completely up to you.

You can also contact NRS through call or chat if you would like more guidance to processing your choices. We might even be able to help you get into touch with some mental health resources in your area that can help process what is going on so that being at your Aunt house isn't so bad. Once again, thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline. We appreciate you taking the step to find out more information regarding your concern.

We are a 24 hour service that provides guidance and support, so feel free to contact us.

[Guest]

I am 16 and my girlfriend is 16 and she is pregnant and her father won’t let her have the baby and I don’t want to lose my baby so my girlfriend said she was gonna run away and live with me but I told her we need to do this the right way Nd go to the court Nd get a paper sign to say u can take care of your self at 16 I really need y’all help plz help us

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out to us; we are glad that you did.
It sounds like you and your girlfriend are going through a very stressful and difficult time since your girlfriend's father says she can't have the baby. But that is not true. He can't prevent her from having it and the law is on her side. We may be able to provide her with a referral to get more information on this, but no one would terminate the pregnancy without her consent.
The part of your question involving her living with you is more difficult and we hope that you or she will reach out either by phone at 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY) of through our live chat services through this website.
We are here to listen and help with this situation and we can go into more detail if you reach out to us in a way that we can have a conversation by phone or chat.
We truly hope to hear from you and your girlfriend soon.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

Im 17 And Pregnant Im thinking about moving in with my boyfriend and his family mainly Because he lives 1 hr and 30 min away it would so much easier for him to attend the doctors appointment do you think that’s the best decision to make he has a stable job we both are very capable of taking care of our child, I wouldn’t be dropping out of school I most likely would do online classes to graduate

[ccsmod15]

Hello There,

Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It takes great courage to reach out for help, and we are glad that you have decided to reach out to us.

If you have permission from you parents to move in with your boyfriend, you would want to get something in writing, if not you might be considered a runaway. As long as your parents approve of the move, everything else should be fine.

We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are available to you 24/7 to listen and to provide support through this challenging time. Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

Best of luck!

NRS

[Guest]

I’m 16 and have a 4 month old I want to move in with my boyfriend my dad is making things too hard on me

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. Caring for an infant is hard work, and we're sorry to hear your dad isn't offering you any support or assistance.

The easiest way to leave home before you are 18 is to get permission from your dad. If he approves your move, you can stay with a family member, your boyfriend, or we could help you try to find a transitional living program near you. If you decide to attempt this conversation with your dad, it could be helpful to think about times and places when you and your dad communicate the best. IT can be a hard conversation, and we would be happy to help you create your plan or practice your conversation.

If you do decide to leave home without permission, your father may decide to file a runaway report with the police. We are not legal experts, but we do have some general knowledge on runaway laws. When a runaway report is made and you come into contact with the police, they may potentially return you back home. This could occur from the police having the address of your boyfriend's house or if you were to come into contact with them in a public space. It is generally not illegal to run away, however, any legal adult who houses a run away, may potentially be charged with harboring a runaway. This doesn't happen very often to our knowledge, but it is definitely something to consider.

We would be happy to talk with you further about your options and/or helping you create a plan. You can give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or you can live chat us through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). We hope to hear from you soon.

Stay safe,
NRS