turning 18 how do i transfer schools without parents

[Guest]

im 17 currently,living with controlling,homophobic,christian conservative parents. Ive been bakeracted a few times from a lot of the trauma and tried to go to a social worker for my custody to be taken away from them but i decided not to go along with it. I feel like i have to get the hell out, im treated constantly like a child, made fun of, and mocked by my parents and it hurts. I want to move out as soon as Im 18, but the thing is ill turn 18 in November, in the middle of my Senior year of High school,which means i might have to transfer schools if i want to room with whichever friend im able to room with.

What I need to know is how can i transfer schools without parents permission,and If im held at home against my will by my parents by the time im 18 what i can do.

ive been planning out what to do for months and i know i need money to pay plenty of bills, please dont give me the talk about being an adult, i just need answers, im desperate. Thank you

[ccsmod1]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. We are here 24/7 to listen and to support.

We're so sorry to hear about what has been going on and want you to know that you deserve to feel safe and happy in your home. If it gets worse before you turn 18, don't hesitate to reach out to Child Help at 1-800-422-4453 to ask questions about your rights as a minor and support around emotional abuse. We are not legal experts, but once you are 18, you would be considered a legal adult and you would be able to leave and live somewhere else. If your parents tried to hold you against your will, you would be able to call the police and they could escort you out of your home. It's understandable to have questions about your enrollment once you're 18. Is there a school counselor that you trust that you feel you can reach out to? If not, you can reach out to the National Center for Homeless Educational Helpline for questions about transferring schools, enrollment, and how to do that as an 18 year old when you no longer need your parent's permission.

We can also be reached at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) if you want help walking through any of these options or you need access to more resources to help you move out when the time comes. Let us know how we can best help,

NRS

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: We care what you think

[Guest]

I am 18 years old and I plan on moving out of my moms house by the end of December. I would have to transfer schools since I will no longer be in the district of where my present school is right now. I am also a mother to a 1 year old baby. I need help figuring out how I can leave my moms house and what rights I have since I am a mother and legal age of being an adult.

[ccsmod15]

Hello! Thank you so much for reaching out.

It sounds like you’re going through a lot right now, and we are here to help. You mentioned that you want to leave school, and transfer over to another district along with your 1 year old baby. It’s great that you have a plan in place for what you want to do next, and are exploring your options on how to go about your plan. With that being said, in most states, anyone under 18 is considered a minor. You are 18, so you might want to talk to your mom about relocating.
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In the same way, you can try seeking out the new school you are trying to go to. Talking with them will can help you realize if you need parental consent for any documentation or paperwork for school. We hope that the options we explored with you, are able to assist you. If you need additional resources, or want us to call somewhere on your behalf, you can reach out to us anytime at 1800) 786-2929, chat with us online at the nationalrunawaysafeline.org. Best of luck!

[Guest]

Hey I will be turning 16 in march and I'm moving out but I have a question how would I be able to transfer schools with my mother's consent

I'm kinda at a loss as I've came out as trans and she has not be accepting so I would really like help on how to do it. I don't think I'm able to am I.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time and we want you to know you are not alone.
We are sorry to hear that your mother has not been accepting of you, it takes a lot of bravery to come out. A resource that may be helpful to you and provide support is called The Trans LifeLine they can be reached at: 877-565-8860.
Unfortuantly with you being a minor most schools if not all would require your parent’s permission to transfer. Also keep in mind if you do move out without your parent’s permission it is possible you would be considered as a runaway. It is also a possibility that the police could bring you back home.
We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are available 24/7, best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Hello. I have just turned 18, and I really want to move out as soon as I can. my family wears down on my mental health, and I just feel trapped. I’m not sure if I could make it another 5 months to finish my last year of high school. I have an s/o that is offering me a place to stay with them in another state, and all the support I would need until I can pick myself up. The only problem holding me back is school. Since I’m half way through senior year, I’m not sure what my options are in regards to moving. I tried talking to my guidance counselor but he wouldn't proceed with anything without me talking to my parents about it. My only ideas are transferring schools or to an online school. Any advice would be super helpful, thank you.

[ccsmod15]

Hi,
Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are trying to build a plan that will allow you to have a better life, and you need a little support!
While we cannot expressly offer advice here at NRS, we can provide some general information. At the age of 18, in most states, you are able to leave your home without parental consent. That’s the good news! You will not have to worry about police involvement, nor about your parent/guardian’s ability to stop you legally. It sounds like you have a viable living arrangement, but it is in another state and you are concerned about what this means for your schooling. At 18, you are able to re-enroll yourself in a new school, provided you have proof of your new address. Of course, when leaving home at any age it important to consider where you will go, how you will get there, and what you will do to survive once there. Your guidance counselor likely wants to protect you by ensuring you will have these kind of touchpoints.
If you would like, you can reach out to us at any time to talk through your plan. We would love to be a sounding board for you. We encourage you to call us at 1-800-RUN-AWAY. We are always here to listen, here to help. Stay safe and stay strong.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 17 and live with my dad and brother in Virginia and my mom lives in Maryland with my older brother, older sister, my sister and my older sisters 4 kids my 2 nieces and nephews and I wanna move away from them and go to a school in Maryland that gets me away from them they treat me fair sometimes and sometimes give me advice I don’t wanna hear that I feel like it’s not true and most of the time it wouldn’t be that bad. I wanna know if I transfer to a new school and live on my own will my dad get in trouble if I’m in a Virginia school and live with him will they come and take my dad too jail? Once I’m 18 I’ll be 18 in November and I’m thinking about moving out and living on my own in an apartment while still going to school or a school that I transfer too. But the main question is will my dad go to jail if I leave and transfer schools and live on my own?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for taking the time to write us here at NRS. It sounds like there is a lot that you are faced with at home, so you are planning to move out once you turn 18. While we are not legal experts, we can speak generally on this. 18 is usually the age you are able to leave home without permission. Once you are a legal adult you have the legal freedom to choose where you live and your legal guardians are no longer responsible for you. As long as there are not special circumstances regarding your father (like a court order that prevents him from legally making contact with you), there would be no reason anyone would get into legal trouble if you chose to live with him as a legal adult. If you are concerned there may be special circumstances or you would just like to make sure, we are happy to provide legal aid if you call us at 1800-RUNAWAY or use our live chat services at 1800runaway.org.

Take care and be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

im 17 turning 18 in April my parents took me out of school and i currently dont live with them anymore its almost been a year and im trying to figure out how i can get back in school without parental permission and without the judge stuff i dont want to cause stress

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us and sharing a little bit about what's going on at home. Just so you know, according to the McKinney-Vento Act you have the legal right to finish school regardless of whether you are a runaway or homeless. You may want to simply reach out to the local public school in your area and talk to a counselor or administration there about enrollment. Again, this is your legal right even after you turn 18. You would not need a judge's approval to enroll.

We are concerned about your safety and well being, however. Please know that we are here for you 24/7 at our confidential hotline: 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or via the chat feature on our website: www.1800runaway.org. When you call or chat with us we can talk about what you are going through and what your options are. We have a large database of resources, things like shelters, transitional living programs, counseling, legal aid, and the like. We are here for you and you don't have to face this alone! Please reach out whenever you are able.

Stay safe and good luck,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello, I am 17 and I turn 18 in January. I am not in the most emotionally safe home and in January once I am 18 I am moving out of state and in with my bf and his family. Can I without parents notice transfer over to a different school in a different state when I am 18?

[ccsmod15]

Hello!



Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline! We understand that it takes a lot of courage to reach out, and we appreciate you taking the time to tell us a little bit about what’s going on.

We are sorry to hear that your home is emotionally unsafe, home should be a place where you feel safe and loved. If you are ever at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that assists protecting minors from being harmed. If you would like to reach out to them, it could be a good starting point to explore options for you.

We understand you have plans on moving, since you know approximately when you will be moving, you can start planning ahead of time. You can let your school counselor know about your plans to move and they can help you with the transferring questions and offer support. If you know where you are going, it may be a good idea to contact the new school and inquire about how the transferring process would look like.

If you are curious about legal issues, we can help you find some legal aid options to help guide you. If you would like to talk more in depth, please feel free to chat us through out website www.1800runaway.org. You can also reach out to us via our 24/7 toll free hotline, 1-800-RUNAWAY.

We are always here for you to talk through what’s going on, to listen and support you in any way we can.

We wish you the best,

NRS

[Guest]

So I’m 18 and I already know I’m gonna fail school bc where I live is literally just woods and it’s hard to really go out and do things without driving like an hour away and it takes a toll on me bc it affects my effort and energy to want to things, school for me right now isn’t the best bc I always feel lonely and feels like I’m not wanted. Sometimes it seems like even my teachers look down on me because some will say your lazy and you never want to anything which really affects me and my self esteem and starts giving me depression. I want to move in with my gf and start a new year at her school doing senior year over again with a new life or like a new start and was wondering if I could transfer schools in the state she lives in?

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us. We are so sorry that your current situation has made it tough for you to be able to feel successful in school. It sounds like you think a different environment might help you, and you have questions about the process of transferring schools. We are not legal experts, but we can share general information that may help you figure out your next steps.

From what we understand, if you are no longer considered a minor in your state, and there is no reason for you to continue to have a legal guardian if you are no longer a minor, you may be able to begin the process of transferring to another school. It may be helpful to discuss the transfer with your current school counselor so that they can inform you on any documentation that may need to be filled out. Another step that may help is to contact the school that you plan on transferring to, so that they can also give you some guidance on any documents they may require for you to enroll in school with them.

In your message, you discuss feeling depressed in your current living environment. If you are already seeing a therapist to address this, it may be helpful to explore your options for support in the state that you plan on moving to. If you would like help in identifying supportive resources, or if you just want to talk about your situation, please 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 safe as you decide how to approach your situation. Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). We are here to listen, here to help. Stay safe!

-NRS

[Guest]

I'm 17, turning 18 in July, and i was wondering if it is possible for me to move in with my aunt and switch to a school in her area once i turn 18 because my house is not a good place because my mother controls every aspect of my life, making me always work around the house all day, looking down on my, and has change my father from the man he used to be. So is it possible to live with my aunt and have her switch me to a different school in her area

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out with your question. In all states except Nebraska, Mississippi, and Alabama, the age of majority is 18. That means that you are considered an adult in the eyes of the state and can decide where you want to live. So - you can move to your aunts house and get registered in a school nearby.

Sorry you've had to go through hard times in your house. Hopefully this clarifies what you can do. If you have more questions, please don't hesitate to reach out again. The National Runaway Safeline is available 24/7 and can be reached at 1-800-RUNAWAY or at www.1800runaway.org. Good luck.

[Guest]

Hi, my step granddaughter is a runaway from her legal guardian. She has an unacceptable attitude thats a risk to my family. She’s been in my house 4 months. I tried to work things out with her but it didn’t work. How can I move her out of my house. I’m not her legal guardian, and she don’t want to move out. I don’t want to take her as my responsibility.

[ccsmod10]

We're glad you reached out to us, it sounds like a frustrating and complicated situation.

You have a few options.

Technically, since you are not her legal guardian, you do have a right to contact law enforcement to escort her home to her guardian(s). You can look up the non-emergency number for your local police department and let them know about the situation.

It could also be possible for her to live at a youth shelter. Doing so usually requires consent from their legal guardian; if you suspect her legal guardians would approve of that, you can consider that. You can look up youth shelters in your area, or call 211 to be connected with an operator for social services to locate resources nearby.

Additionally, most states in the US have Minors/Children In Need of Services (MINS/CHINS) policies, which are legal restrictions that can be put on minors by a judge if their behavior is out of control; a bit like being 'on parole.'

We are happy to help with any of this. You can post on this forum again, chat us at 1800runaway.org or call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. Having more specific details about your situation might help us give more informed responses.

[Guest]

Hi, I'm 18 and I want to move in with a family member of mine, but my current living arrangements is toxic, mainly coming from my step-mother. If I was Diagnosed with GAD,(Generalized Anxiety Disorder) or Depression, is it still possible to move out of my house and go live with a relative of mine

[ccsmod15]

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.


We aren't legal experts, but leaving home if you're under 18 is typically tricky without parental permission. However, if your parent agrees to you living with another family member, this should be possible regardless of any medical conditions. You can call or chat us we can direct you to legal services in your area that would be able to provide further clarification.



We are here as support through this challenging time and we can best help by having a conversation with you either by phone on our hotline or chatting us through our website. We truly hope to hear from you soon so that we can listen and help.


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 I am turning 18 in 6 months and I live with my aunt she’s my legal guardian and when I’m 18 I was planning to move out and stay with my mom but I’m still in school so I need to know how I can transfer to a school where she lives at without my aunts involvement. My aunt is very toxic and controlling so I’ve been planning for months I need answers please respond

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us with your question. We're sorry your aunt is so difficult and treats you so badly. The good news is that once you are 18 you would no longer be considered a minor or under her custody. While we can't give any guarantees, we don't think there should be any problem with you registering for a new school without your aunt's involvement after you are 18. Probably the best thing would be to contact the school you want to enroll in about how you can do that.

Please feel free to call us anytime at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat with us via the chat feature on our website: www.1800runaway.org. We're happy to listen, discuss what all your options are, and provide you with any resources that you may need. And we are here 24/7 and are confidential. We hope to hear from you soon!

All the best,
NRS Crisis Team

[Guest]

Hello, I'm turning 17 soon and then I'll be 18 in October of 2023, my parents are divorced and I currently live with my father 70% of the time and by the time I'm 18 I want to move out of my dad's house and move back in with my mom. I'm currently going to a high school in Puyallup, and I plan on reenrolling into my old high school over in Tacoma. What do I do to switch schools by myself? Where do I go, who do I talk to, what do I do? Living with my dad makes my mental health worse and I constantly feel like a disappointment, I recently came back from Impatient Care as well, and I've been going through the worst relapse ever, moving back in with my mom would be easier for me and it already is live living in heaven the weekends I'm with her.

Please respond and please help- I'm not allowed to have a phone at my fathers and having friends and freedom is limited, I can barely see my boyfriend without the fear of my dad accidentally outing my boyfriend and I to his Christian parents

[ccsmod3]

Hi there, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you are wanting to move back with your mom when you turn 18 and will be needing to enroll in a different school. For enrolling yourself in school, especially once you are 18 is something that you should be able to do on your own. You would just need to talk to someone at the school, but it also could be something your mom can help you figure out as well. It sounds like you feel better when you are at your mom’s house rather than at your dad’s. Are you able to talk with mom about maybe getting full or more custody of you so you don’t have to wait until you are 18 to feel safer at home? You definitely deserve to be in a home where you feel safe and can be yourself and not have to worry about your dad outing your boyfriend.
If you would like to discuss this further with us, please call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 18 and still have my senior yr to go can ai move and transfer myself into a new school without parent consent

[ccsmod11]

(If you feel you are in immediate danger for any reason, please call the police or go to your local emergency room.)

Hi there,
Thanks so much for reaching out. So since you’re 18, in most states you have legal autonomy, which means you can make the decision to move schools without your parent’s permission. The process to do so might be different depending on your state or even your individual school, so we would recommend contacting the school you want to transfer to or contacting the National Center for Homeless Education hotline at 800-308-2145 (we know this sounds weird, but they deal with things like this!)

We would love to hear more about your story and give you more personalized and confidential help. Please feel free to reach out to us directly any time to talk to a real person. The NRS is here 24/7 via online chat or by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929).

Thanks again for reaching out, good luck!
NRS