Can I move out at 17 in Oklahoma?

[Unregistered]

I'm 17 years old, I live with my mom in Oklahoma, my parents are divorced. I'm deeply depressed and wish to move out and go live with my girlfriend and her aunt in Colorado. I was wondering if I left home at 17 in Oklahoma and my parents filed a police report, would the police attempt to or return me home?

[ccsmod7]

Re: Can I move out at 17 in Oklahoma?

Hello there,

Thank you for contacting us today. We’re sorry to hear that things at home aren’t going well and that you feel like you can’t stay there anymore. It’s important that you feel cared for and comfortable at home. It seems like your girlfriend is supportive of you and its good that you have that.

You mentioned that you're thinking about leaving home and staying with your girlfriend and her aunt. If you leave home without permission, your parents/guardians could report you as a runaway and the police would be authorized to return you home. How much the police actively search for you can vary, but crossing state lines doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t be returned home by the police. If you are reported as a runaway it’s typically just a status offense; however, sometimes people helping runaways are at risk for charges such as harboring a runaway. This charge is often considered a misdemeanor, but might be something to explore if you or whoever you would be staying with are concerned.

There's definitely a lot to think about when running, like how you would get to Colorado, how you would enroll in school, and how you would pay for things. We are happy to discuss with you some safe options specific to your situation if you decide to call or chat with us.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

Can I move out at 17 without parental consent? I have a steady job and a good house to live in with my boyfriend and we each have our own car. We live in Oklahoma. I don’t want to move then be filed as a runaway. Because I’m not it’s running away.

[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]

Hey there , I wanna leave home to californa , me and my friend are depressed and just wanna get away , life isn’t the greatest as we both have depression and family probelms . We would call our parents and everything to tell thennn were fine . I have a place to stay in californa with family , would that effect them if we just showed up ? Would we get called as a runaway and then go to jail for ‘ Kidnap ‘ if we ran away to them ?

[ccsmod10]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It sounds like you’re in a tough spot right now. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do. You mentioned that your situation has caused some depression. If you’d like some additional support regarding this you can always contact the National Alliance of Mental Illness by calling 800-950-NAMI or by texting NAMI to 741741. You can also check out their website at www.nami.org.

If you go to stay with other family members without prior permission from your parents, whoever you’re staying with could be charged with harboring a runaway, which is a misdemeanor. Penalties for harboring a runaway vary from state to state, police officer to officer, and how your parents view the situation.

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.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

My sons girlfriends parents are destroying her inside and out. I sent her mom a message asking if she can come for dinner one day this weekend because her birthday is close by. Her mom screamed at her for it. Calls her stupid and a mistake she wishes she never made. Her dad is physically abusive as well. Can I let her move in or can I get in trouble? She is 14 severely depressed and I am worried about her safety not just from her parents but her as well.

[ccsmod5]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us on behalf of your son’s girlfriend. We’re glad that she has someone looking out for her. Please let her know that we’re here to talk and help her if she wants to call or chat with us on our website.

It sounds like home is really terrible and dangerous place for her. She definitely doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment. Unfortunately, since she’s a minor she can’t just leave her home without her parents’ permission. If she leaves and goes to your house her parents could report her as a runaway. If she wants to report the abuse or try to find ways to get her custody transferred, she or you can call Child Help (800) 422-4453 or www.childhelp.org We are also available to report the abuse to CPS as well. If she needs a safe please to stay, in the event that she decides to run away, we can also look to see if there’s runaway shelters nearby. We are here to help in any way we can.

Again, thanks for reaching out to us. We are open 24/7.

Thanks, NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 17 and my mom told me to get the ******** out and leave can I leave without being filed as a runaway?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for contacting us here at NRS. While we are not legal experts we can speak generally on this. Because you are still a minor, your mom is legally responsible for you. She can't legally kick you out since this can be considered neglect if she does not arrange an alternative living arrangement. If you need a safe place to go, you can contact child protective services in your state.

Runaway reports depend on your parent. If you do have another safe place where you can stay, your mom could choose not to report you as a runaway. Unfortunately, she can change her mind at any point and still report you as a runaway even if she kicked you out. Running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. This basically means your mom can ask police to return you home if she knows where you are staying. The only ways to leave without being reported as a runaway are if you have your mom's permission, go through child protective services, or you are granted emancipation by a court.

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 or chat if you would like to talk more in-depth about your situation and explore your options. You can contact us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org.

Best of luck,
NRS

[Guest]

Can I move out at 17 if I have my dads permission or mother’s even tho I don’t live with them and I live with my grandparents and they have Guardianship?

[ccsmod3]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us! You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. The easiest way to leave home is with your legal guardian’s permission, who in this case is your grandparents. 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 grandparents. If both your parents support you in wanting to move out, they may be able to help you communicate that to your legal guardians. However, we are not legal experts and there may be state laws that influence your specific situations. If you would like to contact us via phone or chat, we could help find some legal resources for your state. 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.

Please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

Can I move out at 17? I have 3 months until I turn 18 I live in Oklahoma with my mom and my stepdad; I don’t speak or see my birth father. My mother has made my life very hard bc Me and my boyfriend for a year broke up and I think it upset her. She started drinking again and claims I have an attitude all the time to make me stay home. She’s selling my car, I’m having to quit tech, and can’t see my friends bc of this attitude I have. First it was me then now she’s started going after my brother and step brother. Now she won’t even talk to my step dad who she threatened to divorce bc he hasn’t taken her side. She twist stories all the time and makes everything seem like it’s everyone else’s fault. She told me to move out a couple weeks ago then called the cops saying I ran away so I came back bc I don’t want to get the ppl I was staying with in trouble. I have a steady job and loving friends who are able to drive me to and from work. I have an amazing bf who makes me feel safe and whom I can move into if I wanted. I have many other parents who claim what she is doing is simply bad parenting. Am I close enough to 18 to leave or should I stay?

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for reaching out to us here at the NRS. It seems like you are in a very stressful situation right now. It is understandable that you would want to leave home if your mother is treating you that way. It also seems like you have a great support system that would be able to help you out if you were to leave home. One thing to note is that we are not legal experts here at the NRS, but through our experience we have noticed that some police departments accept runaway reports for people your age, and some do not. The best way to find out for sure is to contact the local police non-emergency line and ask them. If the cops were to find you before you turned 18 there is a chance that they would end up sending you home. If you would like to further discuss your situation with us please do not hesitate to contact our 24/7 confidential hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or through our Live Chat. We wish you the best of luck!

[Guest]

Hello. I live in Oklahoma and I'm turning 17 in October 2021. I was planning on leaving home without my parents consent when I turn 17. My home is a bad place for me to be in. It makes me depressed and I get verbally abused. I do not want to report my parents because then my 14 year old sister would get taken away. I have a few options to do. I can move to North Carolina with my girlfriend and her mom, I can move to my aunt's house in Oklahoma, or stay with a friend. I don't know what to do in this situation and I tried to call the police department for any advice, but they didn't give me helpful information.

[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.This is something you may want to speak to your friend and aunt about first. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions but it sounds like the police have not been helpful in answering your 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 would like to look into further emotional support options, you can text with a crisis worker at the National Alliance on Mental Illness 24/7 by texting "NAMI" to 741741.
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]

Hey, I just turned 17 a few days ago, I wouldnt want to say my home life promblms arnt entirly my fault bc they are...My dad did things when i was little that i just brought up to my mom and she is kinda making excuses abt it...i cried alot abt that...ive been physically abused and emotainally, verbally, basically all of the above...my dad said "im about to kick you out" and he said "do you want to be kicked out" in my head I was like YEESSSSS PLZ...then he ended up not going thru with it...i want to leave home so bad...he wanted to call my sister in as a kidnaper bc i snuck out with her, this is the only way i can see her basically bc she doesnt want to be around my parents either...2 days after she turned 18 she left...she was the only person you understood wtf went on in this house of horrors...im deppressed, my mom and dad called me a f*ck up and i need to leave i cant be here anymore...living here is not working out and i cant do it anymore i have ppl who want to tak me in bc my parents say all i do is cause problems and want to send me to a military school...its 5 months long and I CANT GOOO i really can not go my bf is so worried abt me leaving...bc as soon as that ends i leave for 3 more moths for army bootcamp thats a total of 8 moths gone and then 3 months later ill be 18...I dont want to be away from ppl for that long its bad enough that im not aloud to be around anybody now anyways...i need to get out of here...nobody wantss me in this house besides to make me miserable plz tell me there is a way out right now

[ccsmod7]

Hello,

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. We appreciate you reaching out and sharing what has been going on. We are sorry about what happened when you were little and we are here for you. You do not deserve to be abused and sounds like you are in a difficult situation. It seems you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options.

We want you to know that you are not alone. If you need urgent care, we recommend calling 911. National Safe Place provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for youth in need. The website can locate a safe place or provide support: https://www.nationalsafeplace.org/.

We are not legal experts, so we can give you some general information about the law, but we can’t speak to what exactly would happen in Oklahoma. Since you are under the age of 18, if you leave home you could be considered a runaway. This means that your parent or legal guardian could call the police, who might force you to return home. Running away is not a crime, however, anyone who allows you to stay with them could risk criminal charges for harboring a runaway.

There are a lot of things to consider when running away and we are here to talk to you. We would need some more information to help you with finding a location of a shelter or provide resources. We would recommend calling us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or contact by Live Chat, we are here 24/7.

Again, we are here as support to help through this challenging time. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.

Please remember you can reach us directly by calling our 24 hour hotline, 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or through our Live Chat.

National Runaway Safeline
[email protected] (Crisis Email)
1-800-RUNAWAY (24 Hour Hotline)
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[Guest]

Hi. I'm 17 and I'll be 18 in 6 month. I have been out of the house for about 3 weeks now and everything was going okay until my parents started telling me they wanted me to come home and that they would start calling the cops on me if I didn't. We did this same thing once before, right after my 17th birthday so close to 6 months ago and it didn't end well. I have 2 friends I've been stay between and their parents both love me and want me to stay with them. One of my friend's parents tried to adopt me once before. That was after they learned that my mother offered me a gun to kill myself because we were in an argument. My question is, can I stay away from them legally because they are toxic?

[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 living somewhere else is your best option.
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 would like to look into further emotional support options, you can text with a crisis worker at the National Alliance on Mental Illness 24/7 by texting "NAMI" to 741741.
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]

Hey I’m 16, ill be 17 in march. so i live with my guardian (bio dads mom) and i ran away this last summer because of her not letting me work anymore when i quit my job for a better one. She told me tonight i could run away again and she wont look for me then threatened with juvie when i tried to get out of the car. Is there any way i could leave?

[ccsmod3]

Hey there,
Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are glad that you are reaching out for help—that takes a lot of bravery. It sounds like you are going through an extremely difficult time right now with life at home and are thinking about running away.

You ask very good questions. It sounds like your guardian is not clear as to how much involvement she may have if you do decide to run away. Although we are not legal experts here at NRS, since you are not yet 18 years old, your guardian could file a missing child report to their local police department. Law enforcement will collect basic information about you that will go into a national database, and they can then return you home in the event you are found.

If you do decide to runaway, have you considered where you may go if you do runaway? Who would you stay with that is safe? How would you support yourself financially to cover the cost of housing, food, and necessities? Would you still attend the school you normally go to now? We can offer temporary youth shelters for you in your local area, but given your age, your guardian may still need to consent for you to stay there. If you call us (1-800-RUNAWAY) or reach out via chat at 1800runaway.org, we’d be happy to provide those resources for you.

Some options to consider is looking into emancipation laws in your state. Emancipation is a law where a minor (meaning someone under the age of 18 years old) can be considered an adult if he or she is able to prove that they can financially support themselves, are legally married, or are active in the military. We are not experts in this legal area, but often the process may take a few months and you will need to go before a judge to explain your case. A resource that may be helpful in answering questions related to this is the National Center for Youth Law Agency at (510) 835-8098 (www.youthlaw.org/).

While we do not blame you for wanting to remove yourself from the situation, perhaps we can discuss some options on what it would look like if you did leave and, perhaps, some options to make home more bearable (if possible)? Is there anything that you can change right now to reduce time spent at home? Perhaps, join an afterschool program or sports team to reduce the number of hours you are at home? Perhaps if you found an activity or even job that you could both agree upon, maybe it’ll give you more freedom and less time spent at home. Many towns and cities have organizations such as a “Boys & Girls’ Club” or YMCA which is a place where you can meet people your age afterschool, enjoy your time, but remain away from home until later in the evening.

We’re sure you have already thought all this out, but if you ever feel unsafe, you can text the word “safe” to 4HELP (44357) to receive a message of the closet Safe Place to go. 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 forum to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon. We can hold a conference call where we can talk with you and your guardian if you wish, as well.

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 live with my step dad and mom and even though i love them very much im depressed
and want to move in with my aunt i live in arkansas but my aunt lives in oklahoma can i move out when im 17 or do i have to wait till im 18

[ccsmod3]

Hi,

We are glad you reached out to us for help. We are not legal experts but we can provide some general guidance and information. Both OK and AK have 18 years old as the age of majority (when you are considered an adult).

It is great that you have a plan to move in with your aunt to help with your depression. We would like to discuss options with you besides waiting until you are 18 that may help you get to your Aunt’s sooner. We need to know more details about your specific situation to help you come up with your best, safest plan.

If your parent(s) give permission, you could make that move now at 17. While it can be a verbal consent, it is always better to get something in writing. We can help you with that as well.

You can start that process by chatting with us through our website or calling our crisis hotline at 1800(RUNAWAY). Both are available 24/7 and both are completely confidential.

We hope to hear from you soon. Good luck.

NRS

[Guest]

My best friend wants to get an emancipation. They r 16 and they live in Oklahoma. They want to move in with my family that lives in Colorado. The school is better here. And jobs r so much better. They r not happy with their family situation. There is no abuse in there home. They would have a better life living in colorado with my family.
What r the rules for an emancipation.

[ccsmod3]

Hi thank you for reaching out. It sounds like your best friend is unhappy with their family and would prefer to live with you and your family where they might be more supported. It seems like they are interested in emancipation. We are not legal experts, so we do not know all the rules to emancipation but we can help by looking for some legal aid resources that might be able to help explain that process a bit better. We do know the process can take some time, sometimes around 6 months. If your friend would like to talk more about what’s going on, they can either call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org. If there are any other resources we can provide, either of you can reach out as well. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS