Moving out at 17 with parent consent

[Guest]

Hi, my name is Andison and I'm 17 years old. My brother and I don't get along that much probably because of all the problems that my mom, stepmom, and dad have caused in our entire lives. Right now I have been living with my dad and my stepmom for almost 3 years and they're always telling us that they are going to send us back were a used to live with my mom, plus they don't care about us at all and they always try to search for problems when there aren't any. And last day I fought with my brother and soonest that we got home my dad said that "soonest that u guys are done with school you all going back to Puerto Rico" were I used to live. And I'm thinking that if he wants to obligate me to move from Virginia, IL (where I live), that is better me leaving the house and have my own life, and to live for a time with my girlfriend on her parent's house. I really don't know what else to do with all these pain that I feel and I want to search for a way to live somewhere away from them.

[ccsmod7]

Hey there,

We really want to thank you for reaching out to us. It sounds like you have quite a bit going on and that you’re in a pretty rough spot right now. No one deserves to be going through all the pain you feel, or to feel unwanted in your own home. Since you’re not 18 yet (and in Illinois, 17 is still a minor), it would be considered a “status offense” to run away from home. Here at NRS, we aren’t legal experts, but you should keep in mind that if your dad decides to, it is possible he could press charges against your girlfriend’s parents for “harboring a minor.” However, if you are moving out with his permission or if he does not file a runaway report, then this is something you don’t need to worry about. You may want to consider if you move out, how you will support yourself financially. Do you have a part-time job? Have you talked to your girlfriend and her parents about staying with them and for how long?

Again, we’re really glad that you reached out to us. It takes a lot to ask for help and it’s great to see that you’re really considering and thinking about all your options. If you would like to talk more about what’s going on at home or brainstorm more options you might have, feel free to call or chat with us at any time.

We’re here to listen, and here to help – best of luck!

[Guest]

i am 17 and wanting to move out on my own, my parents have joint custody but my mum has residency over me. my mom is okay with me moving out on my own but my dad refuses. can i still move out with just my mothers consent? i’m from maine looking to move out of state.

[ccsmod13]

Hi there, and thanks for reaching out to NRS. This is a great question to ask. We are not legal experts, but from what we know this is how runaway laws work in most cases: If you leave without permission from a guardian, they can report you as a run away. Running away is not illegal, but if your parent knows where you are then you can be returned home by police.

Your situation is definitely more unique since your mom is giving you permission, but your dad is not. Depending on your parent's custody agreement, your mom might have the final say on where you are living until you reach 18, but we cannot say for sure. Because you are so close to 18 and your mom is okay with you moving, it is unlikely police would interfere to the point of having you returned home. But your dad may be able to take your mom to court. This sounds like it would be more of a legal issue and the answers could greatly vary on your areas specific runaway laws and the custody agreement. If you call or chat with us, we can provide you with legal aide resources so that you can speak with a legal expert.

Do not hesitate to reach out again (1-800-786-2929 ; 1800runaway.org) if you would like to talk more about your situation or you need help locating resources in your area.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi Im 16 and I was wondering in Indiana, if I have my moms consent and a job would I be allowed to move in with my boyfriend legally without being emancipated?

[Guest]

Hey, I’m 16 and I live in Indiana. Would It be legal to move out into my boyfriends house with parental consent? Or does indiana make you get emancipated to move out?

[Guest]

Hello I’m 16 going on 17. And I was wondering if I am legally allowed to move out at 17 with at least one of my parents consent. Both parents live together which I live with them. But I’m ready to be out on my own. Can I legally move out of my father gives me permission and not my mother. It’s equal custody

[ccsmod4]

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. Since it sounds like you would have permission form one of your parent’s to move out then you might consider getting something in writing and having it notarized so it becomes a legal document. You might also look into emancipation laws in your state.

We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. 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 in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, 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 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

If a 17 year old gets kicked out the house by her parents and she has messages telling her to leave can she get in trouble if they call her in as a runaway in texas?

[ccsmod0]

Hey 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. This is a question she may want to ask the nonemergency police, because her parents are in their rights to report her as a runaway but it could be considered neglect for them to kick her out.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS. 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]

yes, my boyfriends family is very unhealthy for him and his mother willingly said he can move into my house but i am unaware on how to get his mothers consent and i would really like to so he can live with me legally, please help .

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thanks for taking the time to write us here at NRS. It can certainly be stressful at home when the adults in the household are not supportive. Your boyfriend is lucky to have such a caring and supportive partner.

The easiest way for your boyfriend to leave home is with his mother's permission. She can verbally give consent for your boyfriend to leave. Or if you are wanting something more official, his mom can sign a letter giving her permission and have it notarized. This is ultimately up to his mother. As long as she does not report him as a runaway, police would not intervene to return him home.

However, your boyfriend's mother can changer her mind at any time and rescind her consent. Until your boyfriend turns 18 (age of majority in most states), she can report him as a runaway to the police. Running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. This means that if she knows where he is staying then she can potentially have police return him home.

We truly want to be a support for you and your boyfriend as you navigate this challenging situation. Both you can reach out by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services anytime so that we can explore your situation more in-depth and better support you.

We hope to hear from you soon, so that we can help,
NRS

[Guest]

im 17 and a teen mom and My mom is scared if she lets me move in with my boyfriend that she will get in trouble with the courts or something and have to pay child suppourt on me my dads dead and myy mom has custody of me. Can my mom get in trouble for letting me move out?

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us. We aren't legal experts and don't give legal advice, but we can tell you what we've heard. Generally speaking, if a parent gives permission for their child to live somewhere else that is a safe, nourishing environment, it is unlikely that they would get into legal trouble. But we can't say for sure so it might be best to contact a legal aid organization in your state. If you contact us we can provide a resource number that might better answer your question. We are here 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY or by chat at www.1800runaway.org.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi, I live I California, I’m 17 and turn 18 in 2 months. I guess I’m like most, and I can’t stand living with my parents any longer. I have a place to go, somewhere I would call home more than where I live now. I have already packed most of my stuff and I’m set. My main concern is my parents calling the police. I’ve done some research and because I’m so close to the age I feel it wouldn’t be necessary to take me back “home” to my parents. I believe I’m ready to leave everything behind and start my life. I guess my main question is would the police take me back to my parents even if I’m so close to the age of 18?

[ccsmod5]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out to us, we’re open 24/7 and confidential. If you would like to talk more about your situation and your plan, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

We are not legal experts at NRS and we always offer to call out to local police in order to get the correct information. If you’d like us to call out to them for you, give us a call. You can’t be arrested for running away and as you said, since you’re so close to turning 18, police may not return you. However, just to make sure of this information, contacting the police would be best and we can help you do that.

Again, thanks for reaching out to us tonight! Please do not hesitate to call or chat if you have questions, need resources, or need to talk.

Best NRS

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

http://www.1800runaway.org/

[Guest]

im 17 turning 18 in the beginning of December. I am currently pregnant due in nov. my mother said she doesnt want to support me or the baby so i was looking into getting emancipated over the summer. The emancipation process seems like too much money that i cant afford and i was wondering that if i have her written consent to move out and i am financially stable that i can move out. im afraid that she will say that i cant live there anymore and file me as a runaway. I was reading on emancipation and they say that it looks better if im not living with my parent when going through the process.but how can i not live with her if she says i have to. I have proof i had a job longer than a year and i pay my own phone bill since may of 2019, and that at my baby daddys i pay rent. i dont know if a month before i turn 18 with my baby that she would call me in as a run away and i would have to move back in. she is very toxic. she didnt actually raise me. i raised myself. i literally could be emancipated and i have everything for it i just simply cant afford it. she doesnt pay for anything of mine except food, and housing currently. i just really cant deal with her drama, toxicity, and the stress bc im a high risk pregnancy from all the stress she make i spotted in the beginning and almost miscarried. its putting my baby at risk staying here so i really cant anymore and i just need to know what to do at this point. i know she will sign and say that i can live somewhere else its just when she revokes it; will i have to go back or can i show the cops all this information and not actually go back, plus i would be 4 months till i would be 18 at that point.

[ccsmod3]

Hello there,

Thank you for posting your situation on our forum. It sounds like you’ve got a lot going on and are trying to figure out a plan to move out prior to turning 18. We are not legal experts here; however, we can offer basic information regarding emancipation and offer legal referrals if we know your city/state. Our general understanding is that in states that offer emancipation, you typically need to be at least 16, living separate/apart from your parent/guardian with their acquiescence (agreement) and be able to support yourself. From what you shared, it sounds like you have also done some research yourself and feel you are able to provide for yourself and your baby when they are born. At the same time, it sounds like your relationship with your mom is a current stressor/toxic and you are concerned she will go back on her word. Please know we are here to listen and we don’t judge. You sound very brave to be figuring all this out while pregnant and taking care of yourself financially.

A few options/resources you might find helpful:

If you haven’t already tried applying for your state’s WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program, they offer supplemental food for low-income pregnant women. Feel free to check them out here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic.

There are federally funded group homes for pregnant and parenting youth across the U.S. (Just in case for some reason your mom doesn’t continue supporting you staying with your baby-daddy.) If your city/state offers this type of program, they may still be a place to contact for other pregnancy and/or parenting resources. To see if there is one local to you, feel free to visit their website here: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/program...ty-group-homes.

It is great that you are thinking through all of these things and trying to figure things out. We are here to talk things over further and encourage you reach out via chat to continue talking. Here is a direct link to chat with us: https://na0messaging.icarol.com/Cons...d=254&cc=en-US/.

We hope this gives you a start and wish you the best of luck!

-NRS

[Guest]

Im 17 in new york and i turn 18 in 2 weeks. My mother and I have a bad relationship right now and she knows I plan to move out once I turned 18. Yet she said if I write a statement that I left on my own free will, I can leave now. Can she use my writing to report me as a runaway?

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,

We're sorry to hear things are tough between you and your mother right now. From how you are describing it, it sounds like your mom is giving you permission to leave home a couple weeks before you turn 18. As long as she gives you permission to leave and doesn't file a report, you would most likely not be considered a runaway. If, however, she allows you to leave and later changes her mind, she can still file a runaway report. Whether or not the local authorities would actively search for you is perhaps less likely, considering you are so close to turning 18. The best way to find out for sure is to call the local police non-emergency number and ask them if they accept runaway reports for 17 year olds (note: they will probably say yes). But again, it sounds like she is granting you permission and perhaps is asking you write the note to absolve her of responsibility.

If you need to find a place to stay we can try to find a shelter for you. Or if you need other resources or just want to talk about what's going on, we are here for that too. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY or you can chat with us online via www.1800runaway.org. We're here 24/7 and are confidential.

Stay safe!
NRS

[Guest]

I am turning 17 in June of this year, I live in New York. I want to move in with my boyfriend, and his father. My mom is not supportive of me dating him in general even though he’s taken care of me unlike her. If I were to move out of my moms and into my dads house, could I have just my dad sign an emancipation for me to move in with my boyfriend after I’m 17?

[ccsmod15]

We're sorry to hear your mom isn't supporting you the way you want or need. You sound understandably frustrated. We aren't legal experts so we can't really know for sure how to answer your question, but we can direct you to a couple legal aid societies in New York that may be able to help:

1) Legal Aid Society- New York County Juvenile Rights Office (www.legal-aid.org); (212) 312-2260
2) Empire Justice Center Agency (www.empirejustice.org); (585) 454-6500

Apart from the legal side of things, if you'd like to talk to us about what's going on feel free to call anytime. We are confidential and here 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY or you can chat with us online via www.1800runaway.org.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello, i turn 18 in 3 months and my parents keep telling me to move out if i want, i have a place set up ready to go and i have a part time job, can i leave? And can they call the cops if they want me back?

[ccsmod15]

Great questions. First, we're sorry to hear things aren't working out at home right now. But it sounds like you have a place to stay if you move out. As long as you have permission from your parents to leave -- perhaps in writing, ideally -- you probably should be okay, legally speaking (though we emphasize we aren't legal experts). However, if they change their mind later and demand that you return home and you refuse, then they could file a runaway report on you. Running away isn't a crime, by the way. It's a status offense like breaking curfew. But it's not always clear how local police would handle runaway reports for someone very close to turning 18. Generally, they do not actively search for runaways. We hope this information helps. If you'd like to talk about what's going on or need any help finding resources (shelters, counseling, legal aid, etc.) just give us a call and we can help. We are confidential and open 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY, or you can chat with us via the portal at www.1800runaway.org.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

i'm 17 years old, I live in the state of Maryland, and i'll be 18 in 10 months. My grandmother has full custody of my sister and I, but for the past couple of years (especially when i began high school) her and I have been having many verbal arguments. Sometimes they've gotten physical. just recently she kicked me out and i was staying with my boyfriend and his family for two weeks, but then my grandmother told me to come back home. I went back but things have gotten way worse. She has threaten to have my boyfriend locked up, she threatened to put me in juvenile detention or a group home since i say i dont wanna stay with her. Now my boyfriends mother doesn't have a problem with me staying with them and im already in the process of getting a job so i can be able to support myself. I dont know if i should try to get emancipated. I feel like i should be able to have the opportunity to move out instead of someone threatening to get me locked up. I dont know what to do, should i get emancipated?.

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to us. We are sorry things haven't been going well at home with your grandmother. Of course, you don't deserve to be emotionally or physically abused or needlessly threatened. We never tell anyone what to do, but you could file an abuse report if that's something you want to do. You can do that through your local police or through Child Help at 1-800-422-4453 (www.childhelp.org). We can also take a report for you if you'd like. As for emancipation: this is an option but you would need to talk to a legal aid agency for more information on that. In Maryland you can call 1-800-845-8550 to get more information about emancipation.

We'd like to help further but would need some more information from you to help. The best way for us to do that is if you give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat with us via the portal at www.1800runaway.org. Our chatroom and phone lines are open 24/7 and we are a confidential, safe place to talk about what you're going through. We also have a large database of resources that we might be able to connect you with: things like shelters, counselors, legal aid, and the like.

We hope to hear from you soon. Please stay safe!