17 in FL how can I legally move out?

[Guest]

I'm 17 and will have my GED in less than a month and I have a job. My situation at home isn't great and I won't get into details about everything but my adoptive parents are tired of me basically and after I ran away last time they took all my stuff and locked it all in a storage locker somewhere and they keep taking my money. They said that they can't wait until I'm 18 so they can get rid of me because they said emancipation would take too long and I'll be 18 in about 8 months. I was wondering if there was a way I can move out at 17 without my parents being required to report me as a runaway. They said there isn't and that they're legally required to anytime I leave, but I just wanted to check, because nobody is happy with me living here. If I left I've had multiple friends offer me a place to stay or to split rent costs and such, and I do have a job and am able to support myself. I'm In Lake County Florida by the way.

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We are sorry to hear that you aren't happy with your situation at home. You seem to be a very hardworking and independent person at such a young age. We are not legal experts, so we can only provide you with general information. From what we know, you can leave home at the age of 17 with your adoptive parent's consent. You could ask them if they would give you something in writing stating that they give their consent for you to move. Another option that you have is contacting your local police through their non emergency phone number. Some police departments do not accept runaway reports for 17 year old's. You could reach out to your local policy and ask about their runaway policy. If you don't feel comfortable contacting the police, we could reach out to them for you. Please feel free to contact us directly via our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), email, or live chat if you have any additional questions or just want to talk.

We hope this response was helpful! We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis 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: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

I am 15 turning 16 in 8 months and I was wondering I can leave my parents house and move in with a friend. M pare treat me really badly and are trying to mess up my future. I am working on getting a job and I have places to go. Can I leave and my parents not be able to force me to come back

[ccsmod3]

Thanks for reaching out to NRS tonight, we’re here to listen and to help. I’m sorry that your parents are causing you a hard time at home. It sounds like you’ve already taken a lot of steps to take care of yourself and make sure that you’re safe, and it’s brave of you to reach out for help.
In Florida, you aren’t considered a legal adult until you turn 18 years old, so until then you are legally required to live at home unless you have your parent’s permission to leave. One way you might not need to get your parent’s permission is if you become an emancipated minor – this could be an option once you turn 16 – but filing for emancipation can be a lengthy, expensive process that you will likely need a lawyer for. Even then, it’s not guaranteed that it will be granted, and in some states you must still have your parent’s permission. If you’d like more information or resources about this, feel free to call or chat with us.
One situation where some minors are able to leave home is if they are experiencing abuse at home, though once you report abuse there’s no guarantee that you will be able to live independently or even that you will be removed from your home. If you’re experiencing abuse you can report abuse to staff at your school, medical professionals, and the police. We can also help you make an abuse report if you call or chat us at the National Runaway Safeline. Child Help can also help with this at https://www.childhelp.org/hotline/ and 1-800-422-4453.
Please know that if you find yourself looking for a place to stay, we have a database of shelter and transitional housing resources that we could refer you to. Another option you could consider is to contact the local Salvation Army and Catholic Charities USA at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/find-help/ -- they may be able to assist with local shelter. You could also try National Safe Place, in which you would text 69866 (SAFE & your Location) for assistance finding a safe place to stay. Additionally, we have a database of shelters and job counselors by region (city/state) that we could help put you in contact with.
We hope this information has been helpful to you – please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY at any time, or via our online chatroom at www.1800RUNAWAY.org at any time day or night to talk and explore options. We are always open.
Best of luck to you, and we hope to hear back from you soon!

[Guest]

Does winter Haven police department accept runaway calls? I am currently trying to move with my boyfriend but don't want him in trouble.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. Yes all police departments take runaway reports. How the police would like to handle the runaway report depends on each police department.
We hope this answered your question. If you have any other questions or would like to explore your situation further please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to provide support.
NRS

[Guest]

Hello, I am 17 living in Florida. I am in highschool, my gpa is 2.83(because I dropped out and came back) my parents are mentally abusive, I have a friend I can stay with who has a home and plenty of income willing to support me. I turn 18 years old on August 15, of 2019. I am extremely mature for my age. My friend is in his 20’s and has a job has completed both his AA, as well as his BA. I intend to leave the house I am staying in because of the emotional abuse I am experiencing. I had not realized this abuse until 16 years old. I am financially stable. I have a credit card in my name, showing I have excellent credit. I am just curious and would really like to leave as soon as I possibly can. Is there any information that you can get for me, regarding legality of the situation, as well as if I can legally leave without consent from my parents. I may be able to get a legal document notarized stating that I will be leaving and signed by my parents. Is this enough. Can this be done by tomorrow or the day after if possible?

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Hello, I am 17 living in Florida

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 are just about sure you can get your parent’s to sign an agreement giving you permission to leave. We are not legal experts but you might check with your local police department or legal aid office about such an agreement and the legalities of it. As far as how long the process could take we cannot say for sure. Most likely the agreement would have to be signed, notarized and witnessed. You might also consider looking into the emancipation process for your state.

We want you to know that we are here as support and help however we can. 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 explore referrals for legal aid in regards to emancipation, please call or chat soon.

Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
We hope to hear from you soon.

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]

hey,I am 16 years old, living in the state of Florida. I have a boyfriend who is 18 years old which my parents have been okay with me dating him and I’ve been out with him plenty of times within the last 7 months, they liked him and wasn’t a problem until I recently snuck him in the house and got caught , now they are threading to put him in jail , but my dad also said that if I wanted to move in with him I could , so if I get parental consent and we go to lawyer and make a contract, an official document stating that they’re okay with me moving in with their conditions and such , an I required to go to court and go through the whole court process of emancipation, or can that document be enough for me to move out?

I am 16 living in the state of Florida . If my parents sign a contract with me an official document stamped by a lawyer saying that it’s okay for me to move out, can I legally move out without having to go through the whole emancipation court process? Or will that document be enough ?

[ccsmod15]

Hello!
Thank you for reaching out to us, it takes a lot of courage to ask for help. It’s great that you are taking the initiative and looking into all the legal aspects of what you and your parents discussed, that is really mature of you. Now, we are not legal experts but you may want to contact an attorney to see if a document like that could be enough to remove parental rights. You may also want to inquire what would happen if your parents do change their minds, or call the police on your boyfriend, if whether or not that document will hold up in court. You can look up ‘Terminating parental rights’ in your state to find out more information. If you want to talk more in depth about any question you have, or what is going on, do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-786-2929. Also send us a chat at www.1800runaway.org, we are 24/7 and completely confidential. Thanks again for reaching out. Best of luck!

[Guest]

I'm 17 and me and my twin are going through a lot right now with my dad, my parents are separated, my mom is an alcoholic and my dad is abusive. My dad is threatening to kick us out and send us to our mom's and we would rather run away. We are on our final year of high school and I don't know what to do. My sister has 2 jobs and she is in all ap classes. Dad doesn't understand Ohio is not the place for us. I have no clue what to do...
they are fighting right now...

[ccsmod1]

Hey,

I’m so sorry that you are in that position. It sounds like you are not getting good support from your parents, and everyone needs support like that. So, it makes sense that you’re frustrated, and that you would want to seek a safe place where you can stay.

We are not legal experts. But our understanding is that because you are under the age of 18, you are still under guardianship. This means that if you do run away, whoever has guardianship can file a runaway report. It’s not illegal to run away. It’s a status offense. That means that if the runaway report is filed, the police’s job is to return you to your guardian.

But, different police departments will handle different cases in different ways. And some departments might not pursue a case where the youth is close to 18 very aggressively. You can call the police non-emergency line anonymously and ask how they might handle a case similar to yours.

Based on what you said, it sounds like your dad, or your mom and dad have guardianship of you. Well, parents can also lose their guardianship rights if they are abusive or neglectful, and it sounds like your parents might fall into that category. If you want to explore this option without committing to anything, you can call Child Help anonymously at 1-800-422-4453. They are mandated reporters, which means if you mention abuse, and give your name, they have to report it. But, if you call and don’t give your name, you could describe your situation, see if it qualifies, and get a feel for next steps.

Think if there are any relatives or friends who might be able to give you a place to stay. Sometimes youth arrange to stay somewhere other than with their guardians. You can do that short term, which can help defuse some tensions in the family, or long term, if that’s what’s needed.

There’s a number of ways to set this up. If a guardian approves, a youth can stay elsewhere. So think if there could be a way to set up an alternative living arrangement that your mom or dad might approve of, like with a relative. You could also leave without your guardians’ approval. They may not file a runaway report. And depending on what your options are they may not know where you are. Some youth do find a stable and supportive situation this way. As a runaway in the US, you have a right to attend school without having to get your guardians’ permission.

You can go to youth shelters, but as a rule, youth shelters have to notify guardians that youth are there after a few days. We have a database of resources, and could give you some shelters to call, if you call us.

Lastly, if you do run away, your safety is most important. Consider having people you can contact if a situation gets uncomfortable, or changes, or just as people to vent to about the ups and downs. This is can be helpful even with living with another relative or friend.

We hope some of these ideas are a help to you. It’s great that you are reaching out and trying to figure out a next step in the face of the very difficult situation you’re dealing with.

-NRS

[Guest]

I’m 17 and I have a one year old daughter, and my boyfriend family said I could move in with them and my parents say I can move in with him and his family, would it be legal for me to move out of my of my parents house and live with my boyfriend and his family?

[ccsmod0]

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. You want to leave your parent's house because you feel like it would be better to live with your daughter, boyfriend and his family. 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. This could be a consequence for your boyfriend's parents. Because you have already spoken to your parents about leaving, they would already know where to send the police to pick you up. You are 17, so the police may decide not to pursue it, but it really depends on the laws and preferences of the police department in your area. 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 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]

Hi, My name is Chris I am 17 turning 18 in 8 months. I live with my mom who has kicked me out before like a month or two ago I have the text of her saying "He is at the dollar store you need to get him" and "you, your mom, and Chrisr is not allowed on my property anymore" in which she sent to my girlfriend. She threatened to send me back to my abusive dad so I got scared and came back home three days later. ever since then, she has been stealing my money saying insanely crude stuff to me and just being so rude. I need to leave my girlfriend has offered me a place to live, sleep and eat. That's my best support system is her family. My mother has turned every against me. I'm scared to leave home again because she told me that if I leave again she will tell the police that I'm an "out of control teen" when that is not the case. Please help this is urgent. I live in Bradford county fl.

[ccsmod13]

Hi there

Thanks for contacting NRS 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 with figuring out your next steps in this difficult situation. Asking for help was really responsible and smart of you. We are sorry to hear things are so unstable at home. You deserve to live somewhere that makes you feel safe and supported.

If you decide to leave home, your mom can report you as a runaway to the police. Running away is not illegal and you will not be arrested. It is a status offense though which means if your mom knows where you are staying then she can have the police return you home.

Child Help is an organization that advocates for young people in abusive and unhealthy situations. You can contact them at 1-800-422-4453 or go to childhelphotline.org to talk more about your options.

We truly want to be a support for you as you decide on your next steps. We are available 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out again by phone (1-800-786-2929) or live chat at 1800runaway.org if you would like to talk more in-depth about your situation and explore your options.

We wish you the best,
NRS

[Guest]

I was wondering if I could move out at the age 17.
I turn 18 in 5 months. I have a job an I pay for all my stuff I have. I was wondering if my parents could call me missing or something and would they make me go back?

[ccsmod0]

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

Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

Does Saint johns county accept runaway calls for a 17 year old because I’m miserable at home and I have a job and a car that’s in my parents name but I can leave the car I have other options and I have a place to go I just want to make sure once I’m out I can’t be forced to come back and get backlash for leaving

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for posting,
It seems like you are going through a lot at home right now and feel like getting out of the situation. Its understandable to feel like that. We’re not exactly sure what you mean by accepting runaway calls, but generally unless you are at the age of majority police can choose to send you home. Some departments will not enforce them though so it may be worth calling out to them anonymously and see what they might do. Those you stay with could potentially be at risk of a harboring a runaway charge as well, although that is up to police if they want to file those charges.
Hopefully this information helps, if you have more questions please reach out to our hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us online. Good luck!

[Guest]

Im tried living with my mom but can i leave home the age of 17 in Florida to live with my dad

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to us. We are sorry you're having a rough time with your mom right now. Until you are 18 you are under the supervision of whoever your guardian is, assuming that is your mom in this case. If you leave home without permission she could file a runaway report on you and anyone you stay with -- including your dad -- could be accused of harboring a runaway. You may have other options, though. Some of these are: asking for permission to live with your dad, filing for emancipation, having your dad obtain primary guardianship of you, or even just waiting it out till you are 18. If you give us a call we can explore these options further with you. Or you can chat with us via the portal at www.1800runaway.org. Please be safe. We hope to hear from you soon!

[Guest]

I’m 15 I’m turning 16 in a few months and I’m trying to move out due to my mom’s behavior she’s always drinking and she’s never home , whenever she comes home she always fighting with me saying really bad stuffs and she kicked me out but she told me if I left with my boyfriend he’s 19 ,( my mom is /was okay with me dating him . ) she was going to call cops on him
is it illegal if I move out with him ? He already finished school and he’s working, and I applied to several jobs and we already have a place to rent at

[ccsmod0]

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 with your mom. 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. This is important to remember if you move in with your boyfriend. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
The easiest way to leave home is with your parents' permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your parents. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.
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

Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

Hi... I'm 17 years old and currently 6 months pregnant. I turn 18 December of 2020 and my mother is very mentally and emotionally abusive. She tells me to get out of her house when things don't go her way. She starts getting very hateful when I try to go to my mother in laws house not even 3 times a month. I want to leave but my fiance is currently on probation and could possibly get in trouble. Is there any way I can leave and not get in any sort of trouble

[ccsmod4]

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. You don't deserve to be abused in any way. It is not your fault that this is happening.
We understand your concern for yourself and your baby.
You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. The easiest way to leave home of course is with your parent’s permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your mother. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern.
We are not experts on the issue, but generally once the abuse has been reported, social services will either decide whether or not to take the case and further investigate. If they do take the case, they will send out someone from child protective services to do an investigation (interviewing people in the household) and from there they will decide the level of danger within the household. It generally ranges from no danger (the youth stays in the home, some services are given, and the case is closed), moderate danger (they will provide family services with possible temporary displacement) and high danger (they will remove the youth from the home and offer certain services).

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.
Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options.
In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.
You might also consider contacting the non-emergency number to your local police department to ask about the legal age to move away from your parent or guardian.

If she puts you out or you’re feeling unsafe and need a safe place to go and talk to someone, you may wish to visit The National Safeplace website (www.nationalsafeplace.org). This organization provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for youth in need. You can look up your city and state to see if there are any safe places near you listed. So that is always an option if you feel like talking to someone in person about what has been going on or if you just need of a safe place to stay.
You also may use your phone to text the word “safe” and your current location (city/state/zip) to 44357. If there are safe places and shelters nearby, a list of those will be sent to your phone and you may have the option to text back and forth with a trained counselor as well.

If you would like to talk more about your situation or go over the options in this post,
please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or live chat at www.1800runaway.org.

Take care and be safe,

NRS