Missouri 17 YO Runaway Laws

[ccsmod16]

Thank you for reaching out. We’re sorry that you’re dealing with those major family issues, but it’s great that you’re taking steps to find a safe and supportive environment.

We are not legal experts, but speaking in general, all youth are under guardianship until age 18. That means that youth do have to live with their parents unless there’s an abuse situation, which would then be handled through Child Protective Services. (If that’s applicable at all, you could call Child Help anonymously, and explore what options you might have: 1-800-422-4453.)

It’s never illegal to run away, but if you’ve run away a lot it’s possible that they might place you in a youth program. That might be what the person you spoke to was referring to. It may also have been an idle threat.

Finally, police departments vary in how they handle cases. In general, their job is to return you to your guardian, but they may not actively search. You could call your local police department’s non-emergency line anonymously, and ask how they might handle a case like yours.

We hope this info is a help, but please call us if you’d like to talk through the situation you are dealing with in more detail.

Leaving @ 17

there are major family issues that my boyfriend & I are both dealing w and we have a plan to runaway from Missouri to another state but we'll be over 17. I was told by someone in the child department of services or whatever that if I run away again ill be sent to jail but once I'm 17 I can run away w/o legal troubles right

[ccsmod7]

Hello there, thanks for reaching out today.

The legal age is 18 in Missouri, so at 17 it depends if your local police department will take a runaway report for you from your parent or guardian. If your local police department takes a runaway report for you, you typically would be returned home if you are found. Sometimes police departments have different protocol for 17 year old runaways compared to younger runaways. The best way to learn about those is to call the non-emergency police number and ask hypothetical questions about your situation. If they do take a runaway report for you and you are found in another state, it is possible that you could be detained until your parents can come get you. If you are found staying with a legal adult, they are at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway.

Please call or chat if you would like to talk more about your situation.

Be safe,

NRS

If I runaway from Missouri to another state when I'm 17 years old what will happen

[ccsmod7]

Hello there, thanks for reaching out for your boyfriend. He is lucky to have a caring partner like you, and it is so not okay that he is being harmed at home both mentally and physically. Here at NRS, we truly want to help

He does have the right to report the physical and emotional abuse to child protective services (CPS). If CPS finds the abuse highly dangerous he would be removed from the house. To learn more about what reporting might look like for him, you all might contact the expert child advocates at Child Help 1-800-422-4453. If he calls us at 1-800-RUNAWAY, we can help him call out and make that report.

The easiest way we can leave home is with his guardian’s permission. That sounds like it might be incredibly hard for him, but if he has a supportive extended family member or trusted adult in his life, he might include them in on the conversation with his parents to advocate for him moving. Depending on his state’s laws and his finances, he might be able to go through the emancipation process. Emancipation laws vary by state, but he typically would have to be 16 to file for it, and would have to prove to a judge that he is financially self-sufficient without with parent’s assistance.

If he does leave home without permission, his dad can file a runaway report for him with local police. If he is found as a runaway by police, he would be returned home. While running away is typically not illegal for youth, they legal adult housing him is at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway; which is a misdemeanor.

You might give him our number, if he would like to call or chat us so we can help try to brainstorm additional options for him. He so deserves to be safe and live free from violence.

Best,

NRS

my boyfriend is 15. his dad has been emotionally and physically abusing him for years. forcing religious beliefs on him. if he were too come live with us or something, go live with someone else. what are the options for him to do this safely?

[ccsmod9]

Thank you very much for contacting us at the National Runaway Safeline.  We’re here to listen and here to help.  It sounds like you’re interested in leaving home to live with your boyfriend.   It seems like you see your boyfriend and his family as a source of support.  It is wonderful that you have such people in your life.

While we do not know your reasons for leaving, we can share some of the information we have regarding running away.  We are not legal experts.  If you are below the age of majority in your state, your parents can file a runaway report that then goes nationwide.  People who help runaways can be charged with harboring a runaway.  This could lead to fines or more serious consequences for them.  Typically, when youth leave home, police return them back to their parents. 

Have you considered options such as asking your mom to allow you to stay with them?  Or, looking into applying for emancipation?  Emancipation is a somewhat expensive process where youth show the court that they can be independent from their parents.  They prove that they know how to provide for their own housing and income.

We would love to speak with you more.  Please do call or chat with us for more individualized supports.  See our contact details below.

Best,

NRS

I'm 16 right now and I know that in Missouri when you are 17 you are legally allowed to leave home but I live in Montana so if I leave Montana and go to Missouri when I'm 17 and live with my boyfriends family what can happen? Will the police make me go home? Can I still enroll in school there?

[ccsmod1]

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us for help. Sounds like you are in a tough situation with your dad. It sounds frustrating to feel like your dad doesn't want you to grow up. We aren't legal experts but we can give you some general info. If you move in with your boyfriend, your dad can call the police. The police can search for you and force you to go home. Your boyfriend could be charged with harboring a runaway, which is a criminal offense. We are here to listen and support you in any way that we can. If you have questions or you want to talk through the situation, please don't hesitate to give us a call any time. We can talk through some options and help you come up with a plan to deal with your situation and stay safe. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.

I wanna live with my boyfriend. I'm 17 and I can suppirt myself very well on my own already. My dad just acting crazy and doesn't want me to grow up. I'm thinking of just leaving and moving out. My dad saying that he is gunna call police and get them all involved. Help me.

[ccsmod1]

Hello,

Thank you so much for writing in. It sounds like you are in a very stressful situation. Nobody likes to be told they can't date someone they like, and it sounds like this came as a surprise after you have been dating your boyfriend for a long time. We are here to listen and support you in any way that we can. At 17, your parents are allowed to make rules for the house, including whether or not you can date. Parent's rules don't have the force of law and you can't go to jail or be charged with a crime for continuing to date your boyfriend against their wishes, however as a minor you are still the responsibility of your parents and they are allowed to make and enforce these kinds of rules. If you leave home without permission, they could call the police, who could search for you and make you go home. If you were to move in with your boyfriend's family, they could actually be charged with harboring a runaway, which is is a criminal offense. We aren't legal experts, however in general that is how it works. Your boyfriend talking to a lawyer is a good idea, since lawyers are legal experts they may be able to provide some more legal advice about what your options are. If you need to talk about your situation, we are here 24/7 to help however we can. Don't hesitate to give us a call or chat with us online. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.

Hi, I've been with my boyfriend for well over a year things are serious and we both have good jobs. My parents are very over protective they've been aware of our realationship the whole time but they realise things are serious between us and basically told me I couldn't date him anymore. I am 17 and he is 18 do they have the right to make me stop dating him and If they try to make me can I leave and go live with my boyfriend's family and what could be our consequences. My boyfriend is also going to speak to a lawyer who deals with these kind of things but I'm anxious and he won't be able to talk to him for a few days.

Hello, I've been with my boyfriend for well over a year now and my parents are very over protective and basically told me I can't date him anymore with no explanation other than they thought he didn't like our family which isn't true he's just nervous around them. I turned 17 and he's 18 do i have the right to continue dating him even they though they told me I couldn't and if they attempt to separate us and I leave what could happen to myself and my boyfriend.

[ccsmod2]

Hey there,

We're sorry to hear that you are in such a crisis. We are non directive here at NRS so we are unable to tell you exactly what you should do in your situation. If you would like to talk more, please call our hotline or chat with us on our website. Best of luck!

NRS

Im 17 and my dad kicked me out but said i ran away and now has the police involved any suggestions