I'm recently 17 and about to turn 18 and my parent wont let me leave

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

Thanks so much for reaching out to us. We understand that it takes courage and maturity to ask for help. It sounds like there is some confusion about what you can & cannot do once you're 18. Although we are not legal experts, we will do our best to share information that will hopefully help you figure out your next steps.

From what we understand, in most states, the legal age of majority is 18. That means that you would be considered a legal adult in your state and, as a result, you are free to decide where you live without requiring the consent of a parent or legal guardian. In some instances, a youth might need someone to act as their legal guardian beyond the age of 18 and, if this is the case, speaking with your case manager might be able to give you a better understanding of how that would work and whether you have any flexibility in making the kind of decisions you would like to make. If you do not believe that your state would require you to have a legal guardian beyond the legal age of majroity, a good option for you to get more information is to reach out to your local police department at their non-emergency number. You do not need to identify yourself to ask them questions, and they may be able to clarify things like until what age they would take a runaway report, for example. Typically, parents can report a youth as a runaway until the age of majority. After that, police do not take a report because youth would be legally allowed to move out without consent. If you need help finding the phone number to your local police department, or if you just need someone to talk to about your situation, feel free to reach out to us.

Whatever you decide, know that we are here to support you. We cannot tell you what to do, but we will do our best to help you stay as safe as possible as you figure out your next steps.

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 are here to listen, here to help. Stay safe!
-NRS

im 17 turning 18 in a few months im mother is saying when im 18 i cant leave the house or go wherever i want whenever i want she says she has say so over all of that how would i deal with this situation?

[ccsmod10]

It sounds like your mother has been really controlling all three of you, and disabling you from making any positive changes to your own lives. That is extremely frustrated, and you are right to be seeking help to make a change.

Your sister who is over 18 (and you, once you turn 1 can order copies/replacements of your birth certificate and social security cards, even if you don't have the originals. There is usually a small fee and the process can sometimes take a few months; you can find more information for your state online. Those would then allow you to get licenses and other documents.

If you are worried for your younger sister's safety (or your own) you can contact Child Protective Services and report how your mother has been behaving. You can also contact police; it is unlikely that your sister would be taken from you or put / moved into state custody unless there was severe abuse going on at home.

Please contact us again at 1800runaway.org or 1-800-RUNAWAY if you want to discuss things further.

I need help. So I'm 17 turning 18 on the 16 of July and I live with my mom, older sister, and my younger sister. My mom won't give my older sister who is 20 years old any of her important documents and because of that, she has been unable to get a job. I and my sister both don't have IDs, birth certificates, or social security cards. We have tried to reach out to our family which has been no help. Right now my mom is going through a custody battle with my father for my younger sibling.I and my older sibling aren't in school nor have we been to public school in 6 years so we have no friends to reach out to. My younger sibling is homeschooled by me and my older sister. We don't know what to do and we don't know if calling the police will get my younger sister taken from us. We could really use some help.

[ccsmod6]

Hi there! We appreciate you sharing a bit of your story with us. It sounds like things at home have been incredibly stressful. It makes sense that as a legal adult you’d want more independence than your parents have been allowing you.
One thing you mentioned is that your parents won’t give you your Social Security card or ID. One first step might be to request a copy of your Birth Certificate Rules, ordering instructions and fees for each state can be found on the CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm. If you feel that your parents would confiscate any mail that arrives for you, you might consider seeing whether you can have it sent to a trusted friend’s house instead. After you receive your birth certificate, you may then be able to use it to apply for a State ID and order a replacement Social Security card (https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/) independently of your parents. State laws regarding necessary documentation to acquire these things can vary. If you reach out to us by phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or by live chat at www.1800runaway.org, we can talk more in depth about your specific state and its laws and or even refer you to legal experts in your area.
Another option might be social service agencies in your area such as Transitional Living Programs. Transitional Living Programs are a type of shelter where young adults can live and get services to help them transition to independent living. A TLP might be a good temporary option for you since your parents have restricted you from getting a job and earning enough money to leave on your own. If you give us a call or reach out by chat we can search our database to see if there are any Transitional Living Programs near you that might be able to house you.
Legally, as an adult, you have a right to make your own decisions about where you live. We’re sorry to hear that your parents don’t respect that. If you feel in any way that you’re being made unsafe by your parents’ controlling behavior, please don’t hesitate to contact emergency services or 911. Your safety is our top priority.
Please remember you can reach us directly by calling our 24 hour hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or through our live chat at www.1800runaway.org.
Stay safe,
NRS

Hello,
I'm 21. I need help because I'm not sure what to do.
I have been trying to get a job and also learn how to drive for years, but my parents are preventing me from doing so. They also will not give me my social security number, or my ID. Please guide me as to what I can do. I'm trying to get a job and move into my own place ASAP.
I must do this. Please give advice
Thank you

[ccsmod15]

Hi,

Thank you for contacting NRS.
A possible option might be calling the cops and they will escort you back into your house to get your legal documents and your papers as they are your legal property at 18. Again, you do not deserve any of this and we are here to support you through it all.

We understand that this must be such a hard time for you. We are always here for you if you want to talk more about possible options through chat or call. You are welcome to chat us through this website, or call our hotline at 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY).




Best regards,



NRS

Hi, I am 18 and have been disowned by my parents yet they refuse to hand over my identification documents in order for me to get my life without them started. What can I do? I live in the state of Michigan.

[ccsmod15]

It is great that you are reaching out and it shows courage and thoughtfulness. It is great that you have reached a better place with your family in the last year and that you are thriving. It could be worth reaching out school and talking to them about what you might need to finish school. You mentioned that your father will not help but have you tried talking to anyone else in your family about why you would need your passport. You can also try the Homeless Youth Handbook they provided information on rights for homeless youths in certain states https://www.homelessyouth.org/en. Another option could be to contact National Center for Homeless Education their website is https://nche.ed.gov . Remember you are not alone and we are always happy to talk and listen 24/7 you can reach through chat or at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
Stay safe and stay strong.
NRS

hey im 17 years old and I ran away at 16 however my case came to an end and I don't have no more difficulties with my family and with the police. anyway I've got so independent over the year and prove that I can take care of myself. I came to find out my passport is expired and I need to renew but my father won't let me and I just really need some help to get it back. I really need to finish my course in high school.

[ccsmod5]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out, we hope to help as best we can. Each state has its own set of rules and fees for ordering certified birth certificates and other records. Rules, ordering instructions and fees for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and all other U.S states can be found here (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm). Perhaps you can get in touch with your local county clerk’s office and they might be able to tell you a more solid answer on what documents are necessary to obtain your birth certificate. Other things that you can try is to contact the vital recorder office in your city and state to try to order a duplicate birth certificate or have another adult (usually family) help request one for you. In this case, we understand it may be difficult to have a family member help but the clerk’s office may be able to inform you of ways around this.
We can help you make a plan for how to deal with your situation and help you find resources to land on your feet. Having a plan for where you will live and how you will survive once you move out can be very helpful. Moving can be a huge step, and you don’t have to be alone. There may be social service agencies in your area that can help meet some of these needs, such as Transitional Living Programs, a kind of shelter where young adults can live and get services to help them transition to independent living. We are here to listen and help however we can.
We look forward to hearing from you! Please reach out via chat or phone call, as we can only answer once through forums/emails.

Stay strong,
NRS

Hi, I'm currently 17, next year I will be 18 and my parents have kicked me out of the house. They are both holding my ssn away from me, plus I have no documents tax reports, or no person ID for me to claim my identity and ss. I am really trying to work to provide for myself and to by next year have my own place and transportation. Can you please please help me with how to deal with my situation as soon as possible.

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us here at NRS and we appreciate you sharing a bit about your situation. It sounds like there has been a lot that you have been faced with. Because you are under 18, you are more than likely still considered a minor. This means your parents have an obligation to care for you and ensure you have a safe place to live. If they forced you out and did not arrange an alternative living arrangement, you may be able to report them to police or child protective services for neglect.

You mentioned having difficulty getting your birth certificate and social security card from your parents. While you are entitled to your documents, it can be very difficult to force parents to give you the copies they possess. It could be helpful to call the local non-emergency police line to learn more how they might be able to help. However, it is likely they will only be able to be present while you ask your parents to give you your documents. The police will be present to ensure that the interaction does not escalate to a violent altercation. Unfortunately, you may find the police are unable to force your parents to provide the documents.

The National Network for Youth (nn4youth.org) published a field guide to aid young people in obtaining state IDs and copies of vital documents. The document can tell you more about how you can start this process in your state:

https://nn4youth.org/wp-content/uploads/Field-Guide_Obtaining-ID-Cards.pdf

We are available 24/7 by phone and live chat for immediate support if you would like to talk more about your situation.

Good luck,
NRS
1-800-RUNAWAY; 1800runaway.org

im 17 and my parents forced my to move out 5 months ago. they refuse to give me my birth certificate or my social security card. if i call my local non emergency police department, will they be able to help me obtain it?

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline! It sounds like you are in a tough situation and it’s great that you reached out for help.

You say in your post that you were kicked out by your step-father and left home because of that. Are you safe and do you have a safe place to stay? If you are in need of assistance or need help finding a shelter or safe place to stay, please call in to 1-800-runaway(786-2929) and we would be happy to help you locate somewhere to stay.

With your SS card, given that you are under the age of 18, this might be a sticky situation. While we are not legal experts, we would be happy to link you with services that could give you more information to whether or not they can hold you SS card from you.

Please feel free to chat in at 1800runaway.org or call us at 1-800-runaway(786-2929) if you would like any assistance in locating shelters or legal assistance. We would be happy to speak with you real time about the situation you are experiencing and to help in whatever way we can.