Legal Consent to Move Out

[Unregistered]

I'm 16 years old and I'm turning 17 this month. My mom and my stepdad have always been on my back for as long as I can remember and I feel like they always have me on a leash and they don't like me doing things my way and they don't allow me to figure things out on my own. It's as if something was to happen and I didn't take care of it the way they wanted it to be taken care of, it might as well be the wrong way. I've been thinking about moving for a couple if years now, but I'm not sure what the legal age of consent is in New York. Please help me.

[ccsmod1]

RE: Legal Consent to Move Out

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us. It sounds like you are frustrated with your situation at home and you are considering moving out. It sounds like you are feeling upset because your mom and step-dad are "on your back" all the time. That sounds like a tough situation. The age of majority is 18. This means that if you move out without the explicit consent and permission from your parents you will be considered a runaway. Your parents could call the cops, who could make you return home, and anyone you stay with could get into trouble for harboring a runaway. Do you have a plan for where you would move, and how you would provide for your basic needs like food and clothing? You might also consider if you will continue going to school. Running away is a really big decision, and we understand you have your reasons for wanting to move out. We are here to support you in any way that we can, and we can help you come up with options for how to improve your situation at home, or how to stay safe if you decide to leave. Please don't hesitate to give us a call 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.