Missouri moving out at 17

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Okay, I live with my mom

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline.

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 speak more about your situation, please contact 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or www.1800runaway.org

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

[Guest]

I turn 17 in March and I live in Missouri. Things at my grandpas house is not the best. I was wondering if my grandpa could stop me from moving in with my boyfriend even tho he is a drop out. Would my grandpa be able to call the police and have them bring me back to his house.

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’ve been going through such 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 legal guardian 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.

It sounds like all of your struggles are making you consider leaving home. If you do decide to leave home, you could consider thinking about ways to make sure you stay safe. You could explore ways you would pay for food, shelter, clothing and other necessary things. You could think about how long you would stay away, where you would stay, and what things would be like when you return. You could consider what you would do if you felt that you were in danger or had an emergency.

There are also many resources that could help you find a safe place if you’re in need or 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]

Can a child legally leave home at 17 in Missouri?

[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 am a 17 year old boy and I turn 18 in 4 months and want to move out of my parents sister and move in with my sister is that legal in Missouri

[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. There are some loopholes in this situation since you are so close to being 18 the police might not file the report and just do whats called a safety check which means that they would come over and make sure you’re okay. It might good to reach out to your local non-emergency number and ask them what they would do.
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]

Im 16 and me and mom do not get along and i tried living with my dad and my mom told the police that he had no rights to me which he does now my dad lives with me and me and my mom still dont get alone can i move in with a family member?

[ccsmod3]

Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline and sharing a little bit about what is going. It takes a lot of courage to reach out and especially in a time where you have a really tough and complex situation at home. If you were to want to live with another family member, you would need to get permission from mother. Also, we would encourage you to start having conversation with family member to see what their expectations would be of you living there and maybe they can support you in advocating for you with being safe physically and mentally.
We are here for you and will support you in anyway that we can. Please feel free to call into us directly as we can talk further about your situation and find resources that are best for you in your area. Stay strong and you are not alone in this! Our hotline ( 1-800-RUNAWAY) and chat are open 24/7.

[Guest]

My stepson is turning 15 in August and is refusing to go back to moms is there anything the police can do to make him return. He is wanting to live with his father

[ccsmod3]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline and sharing a little bit about what is going. It takes a lot of courage to reach out and especially in a time where you have a really tough and complex situation. We aren’t legal experts and it is difficult to say how police might respond in this situation as its unclear if there is already custody arrangements already in place. If so, we hear that police would identify it as a family matter rather than a police one. If there are potential risk/abuse going, then involving the police would be more of a possibility. 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]

17 with consent?

I'm planning on getting an apartment asap with a friend, I'll be 18 at the end of the year and she's 6 months younger. If she were able to get written consent to move out with me, would it be considered Child Endangerment?

[ccsmod4]

Reply:17 with consent?


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. We are not legal experts so a suggestion might be to speak with a legal aid service in your area. You might consider searching on line to find the nearest legal aid office in your area. We might also be able to assist you with locating local resources.

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).

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

[Guest]

Hi I’m 17, I was in foster care for a lot of my life then moved back in with my biological parents. I want to go back to my old foster home where my brother is after school is out because my home life is terrible; without my parents permission.

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thank you for your message. We’re sorry to hear that your home life is terrible; you definitely deserve to feel loved and supported where you are and it’s understandable that you would want to leave. Since you are 17, you are still considered a minor. That means that you are able to leave home but only with permission from your parents. If you leave without permission, your parents would have the right to file a runaway report. From there, the police may look for you where your parents think you might be. If they are able to find you, they might bring you home. Another possibility is that police will just let you stay where you are since you are almost 18. Truly, the way your situation is handled depends on the officer you’re interacting with. If you’d like to speak more specifically about what’s been going on, need resources, or need help figuring out your next steps we are here 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929. We hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

hey i 16 i was just whiting to ask can i more out of my house at this age

[ccsmod8]

Hello there -

Thank you for reaching out to us here on our public forum. We try to help and answer question that you might have. Now after reading through your post, you can see that there are a lot of post on this thread that have asked this question. Please go back and re-read the other post for more information about leaving home before 18 years old and possibly the one directly above your post has asked a similar question to yours.

If you still have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us again via phone or chat.

[Guest]

Look today is 7,19,2019 and my birthday is on August 2nd can I leave home now or do I have to wait I'm 17 by the way what I really want to know is can police take me home.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if you do opt to leave your home your parents/guardians can file a runaway report, which is essentially a missing person report. Running away is a status offense; this means that it isn’t illegal, but it’s something you can’t do while still a minor. If a runaway report is filed and you are located by the authorities you will most likely be returned to your parents/guardians. It sounds like you are a few weeks away from turning 18. Because of this, the police may let you stay where you are if you are located. It may be best to call out to your local nonemergency police line (311) for clarification on local policy.

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]

To whoever it may concern,

I’ve been having trouble with my family for years and at times it’s gotten to make up or break up moments. I haven’t had the best relationship with my adoptive father and i don’t get along with my siblings at all and i’m always arguing with them or my mother about lots of things. Recently i just finished staying with my grandparents with permission but my grandma doesn’t want to take me in permanently, and yesterday night i came home after a week of being away. Although i feel i need months to process it all, my family is making things to difficult and at one point last night, (i forgot exactly what was said but at one point) my mother said “you can pack our things and leave” and this was said about 3 times, and i don’t know if she might change her mind. I have a friend from a nearby town who wants to help me and give me a place to stay, i don’t have permission from the mother yet but what would have to happen for me to move in with the family of my choice and not a random family, of whom i’ve never met a family member of that household. I am 15, turning 16 next month. I am happy when i’m not with my family and problems go away and i become a better person, 8th grade year i had slight suicidal thoughts and i don’t want to go back... this household is all to much to handle and i need to know how i can move out without emancipation, and with the assurance that i will be safe, my father has once swung at me but didn’t hit, and another time challenged me to fight him... if emancipation is the only way plz let me know also... but i also don’t see the need for that if let’s say the family i stay with says i don’t need to get a job and that they will 100% take care of me. Thank you for reading. -******

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today.

Sounds like home is very stressful for you and you are looking to move in with a friend because you cannot move in full time with your grandparents. That cannot be easy to go through. Here at NRS, we truly want to be a support for you during this difficult time.

The easiest way you can leave home as a minor is with your parent's permission. So if you were able to gain permission to go to your grandparents' it might be possible for you to get permission to go to a friend's place. You mentioned that you have not met this friend's family. You might first meet them and ask them about what it would be like moving in there. Then maybe you can include them in on that conversation with your mom about getting permission to move. Aside from your guardian's permission and emancipation, the last way you can legally move is through child protective services if they investigate your home and find it unsafe. If your home is unsafe and you would like to explore that option please call or chat us: 1-800-RUNAWAY or www.1800runaway.org.

Please know that we are always here via our phone services and chat services if you need support, help brainstorming your options, or local resources.

Best of luck with everything,

NRS

[Guest]

I'm in foster care and turn 17 in two weeks. Can I move out at 17 even though I'm in foster care?

[ccsmod4]

I'm in foster care and turn 17 in two weeks

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. In most states you must be 18 to be considered an adult. You might consider speaking with your case manager about the legal status for someone in foster care to be considered independent.

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 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I don't get along with my parents and I've been told that I can move out at the age of 17. I've been reading a lot of comments and articles saying yes you can move out and no you can't move out. I have a job and all passing grades and a place to go to. I have talked to my aunt about this and she has given me permission to move in with her. Am I able to move out without my parent's permission?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

This is a really a great question and the possibility of leaving at 17 can certainly be confusing. We are not legal experts by any means, but generally speaking your parent can attempt to report you as a runaway if you leave home without permission. This basically just means that they could have the police return you home. However, some counties and police departments do not pursue runaway reports for someone who is 17 and sometimes they do not even consider a 17 year old to be a runaway. The police department in your area will be able to give more specific information about the runaway protocol in your area. You can contact them anonymously to ask questions by calling the non-emergency number.

It can be really stressful when the adults in our lives are not supportive. It is completely reasonable that you would want to live with your aunt instead considering your parents are making things difficult at home. You know when it is the best time to leave for you and your parents might respond to the situation. We want to be a support for you while you navigate this challenging time and you can reach out again by phone or chat 24/7 if you would like to talk more and discuss your next steps.

Be safe,
NRS