Moving out at 17 with parent consent

[Guest]

Can a 17 year old move out on there own if they have guardians permission in North Carolina? And what legal responsibilities would guardian still have?

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us! If you have their permission you are able to live wherever they allow you to. We are not legal experts, but since they are your legal guardians still, they would be responsible for everything they were for while you were living with them. If you feel comfortable you can always reach out to your local police station to ask about their continued responsibility.

You can always reach out to us if you have any further questions. 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.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Hey can I move out and live with my aunt instead of living with my mom without her permission?

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. We are not legal experts but we do have some information on what could happen. If you are a minor and leave your home without permission, you could be considered as a runaway. If the police were to find you they most likely would bring you back home. You could consider talking with your aunt and mom about wanting to stay with your aunt. We also can help you have a conversation by doing a conference call. How that works Is if you call us we can call your mother and help you have this conversation.
We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any more questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. Best of luck
NRS

[Guest]

Hello I’m going to be 17 next month and I want to move out on my own I already have everything figured out I’m still going to attend school and still go to work and I found a cheap apartment that’s close to school and work yet my coworker offered to let me live with her and her mother till I have more money just in case for rainy days. I want to move out because I’ve never been happy for more then a day I am grateful for everything my mother does for me but she always makes me feel ungrateful and makes me feel like I’m always a disappointment while also has me on lock down so I can only go to school work then home 24/7 and she controls everything associated with me not letting me do much for myself and if I did do something for my self she would make me think I’m selfish any tips and information on how I can move out legally with her signed consent?

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We’re sorry to hear that your parents are making your living situation so emotionally difficult. It’s great that you are capable of taking the initiative in living independently and on your own terms.

While we are not legal experts, we do have a great deal of experience working with runaways. It is not illegal to run away. Your parent/guardian could file a runaway report on you but this would NOT mean that you would get arrested or charged with anything. It typically does mean that the police could return you home if they encountered you and that would be that. Some police can be more understanding about what is going on at your home. In our experience, police will oftentimes return the youth back to their guardian almost no matter what. Police typically do not actively search for a runaway youth. However, they will go where the parent/guardian directs them if they know where you are staying. Additionally, police can sometimes be more lenient about runaway situations the closer you are to 18. You can attempt to calmly, respectfully, and persistently deny them consent to touch you or take you anywhere, and they may give up on trying to return you home. They also may not, in which case you should comply with what they tell you to do for your safety.

Depending on your state, emancipation could be an option. Emancipation affords a minor the rights of an adult before they are 18 or age of majority in their state. Typically, a youth would have to file a petition to become emancipated with their local county court. If you are interested in this option, it might be a good idea to reach out to your local county court in order to ask them what the procedure is where you are at. It should be noted that emancipation is not a fast process. It can take months to complete. Usually, they are looking to see that you have a job, that you have a place to live, and that you can take care of yourself.

If you want to talk more about what is going on and what options you might have, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

i’m a 17 year old (18 in september) and i live with my mom. she is insane and constantly tells me to leave then changes her mind. My father has custody of me and told me i could move in with boyfriend who is 19, but the one thing is he is in texas. his family is okay with me moving in now. if my father is the one with custody can my mom interfere with me moving? i live with her but like i said my dad has custody of me. i live in california with my mom and my dad also lives in california. i’ve been to texas to stay with my boyfriend before. he’s also stayed with me in california at my moms.

[ccsmod3]

Hey there. Thanks for reaching out to us here at NRS. We know that it can take a lot of courage to reach out for support, and we're glad you took that step. We're sorry to hear that you've been having a tough time with mom, especially if that means she's constantly telling you to leave and changing her mind. That must be incredibly frustrating for you. Because we're not legal professionals here, it's probably a good idea for you to connect with someone in the legal field for this particular question. We're guessing it's much more of a complex situation and don't want to steer you in the wrong direction without more information.

If you'd like to chat in more detail and/or have us help you find legal aid in your area, please feel free to reach out to us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or through our live chat at www.1800runaway.org. We're available 24/7 and are always happy to listen, and to help.

Take care.

NRS

[Guest]

Hi I just turned 17 three weeks ago and my mom wants to move. I don't want to move I want to stay in the current city we're in. I want to move out a few months before she moves and I have a job and i have been saving up.She has been telling me I should move out as well and she has threaten me that she would kick me out and i don't know what to do. I do not want to get the law involved. I was thinking that i could get emacpated but she says it costs to much and takes to much time and I said i would pay because it is only 150$-200$ and i can pay it no problem. She also has a problem with my boyfriend and his family but thats not new she has a problem with everyone who comes into my life that she does not see worthy of me or my time but i feel thats something she does not get to deciced because it should be my choice. I have been looking for aparments, schools and a new jobs so i do move out i will have options.I feel like i can live on my own and start my own lie.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It makes sense that you would want to stay in the same city but it seems like you and your mom are at odds over what the best next steps would be. You mentioned emancipation and some limitations regarding it. We’re not legal experts here at NRS, so we can’t give you any legal advice regarding emancipation. Each state has certain rules and qualifications about who can and cannot be emancipated. It may be best to reach out to a legal aid group to help you navigate the emancipation process. You can find a legal aid group near you by going to www.lawhelp.org.

You and your mom may want to explore other potential options like you staying with a family member or friend or potentially entering into a transitional living program. 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.

Stay safe,
NRS

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[Guest]

hi i’m gonna be 18 in September, i currently live with my mom but i’m planning on moving to texas with my bf and his family (personal reasons) and my dad has full custody so does that mean i would only need his permission to leave? and does that’s mean my mom can’t really tell me no since she has no custody?

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

That's a very good question. Please keep in mind we are not legal experts so we cannot say with 100% certainty what the answer to your question is. However, normally a youth would only need permission from whoever has guardianship over them to make a move such as you propose. Unless, of course, your mom has visitation rights or some other legally binding connection to you such that you would not be able to move. It might be best to speak with a legal aid agency for more certainty on this question, however. If you want us to look for one in your area the best thing would be to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us via the chat feature on our website: www.1800runaway.org. We look forward to hearing from you and giving you any resources we can provide.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I am going to be 17 in a month and I want to move out, I have been wanting to my whole life. My mom is not a good mom, she puts all of her stress and problems on me because I am the oldest kid still living with her. My little sister runs away all the time and when she does my moms first reaction is to tell me to find her or go get her. My little sister runs away all the time and my mom doesn't give her any punishments and doesn't care. My mom also goes to her boyfriends almost every night. My older brother who is 21 and can't keep a job recently moved in and he is very bad to live with but my mom is unable to kick him out because he will be homeless. My brother steals from me and my mom. To give you an idea of how bad my brother, we have no forks and barley any more spoons and we had to buy all new dishes because he hides them so he doesnt have to wash them or bring them to the kitchen. And he pees in all of our cups and mugs because hes too lazy to go to the bathroom. I have to bring him to work in the mornings at 6AM everyday even though my mom should be the one doing it. My dad died 5 years ago and ever sense my mom has been getting money from him to pay for me and my siblings. But I have not been getting any of that money spent on me or the things I need. I have had the same job for a long time and I am really good at it. I am the only one their that has gotten a raise. My mom is very manipulative and said she is going to make it really bad for me if I try leaving. I want to move in with my boyfriend and his friend, they both have jobs and can support themselves. His friends mom would sign for our place and would pay for my first 2 months of living there. My boyfriend who I have been dating for over two years is 18 now and my mom said she will call the cops on him and get him in trouble if I try leaving. I don't want to live at home and I don't want my boyfriend to have to go through dealing with the cops. If I have to get emancipated I will do that but I don't want to have to do that. My mom only wants me to stay at home until I am 18 because she wants the money she gets every month for me. She also wants me home so she can make me help her with her kids and be a second mom. I can't keep dealing with all of this, its been really hard for me to focus on my school work because of how much I have to deal with at home. Moving out would be the best thing for me and get me out of the manipulative cycle I am in at home. I just want to know if it would be possible for me to move out, without my boyfriend getting introuble.

[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. 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 forum 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]

Hello,
I am 17 turning 18 in 5 months. I have a one year old son and I am attending college full time with a part time (off the books) job. I am currently staying with my grandparents and my mother since she is not on her own yet, I was with my dad up until last year when he passed away. My mom was physically abusive with me up until I was 16, and mentally and emotionally abusive with me now. My grandparents are manipulative and miserable, and almost all they do all day is talk badly about anyone who doesn’t fit their “perfect mold”. They constantly complain about me and my son living there, but since my mother is there too, there’s no where else I can go. I can’t stand it here anymore. Is there anything at all that can be done?
Thank you.
-Krys

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,

Thank you so much 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 right now and we want you to know that you are not alone.

You do not deserve to be abused in any type of way and we are sorry that you are going through that. You can file a report if you wish and there are a few ways you can go about doing that. One option would be to contact Child Help at 1800-422-4453 and they would be able to help you with doing a report. Another option would be to talk to a counselor at your school and they would be able to help in a report. Lastly, you can always call us and we can help you with filing a report.

One option for you to leave legally may be emancipation, which would give you rights as an adult before turning 18. To find out more about emancipation in your state please give us a call or call your local court house. If emancipation is not an option, you could see about staying with friends or other family members. Keep in mind that until you are 18 it is a possibility that if you leave without permission you could be sent back home.

We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any more questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Hello, my girlfriends parent (the father) is twisting a lot of things, saying she can leave then calling the cops right after so she gets in trouble. He would get angry and chase after her, her mother has a drug addiction, and he keeps saying she needs help but it’s the problems that he keeps violently going after her, each time the cops are called he plays the victim game. She wants to leave but she’s scared that he’s gonna follow her life he did before. When she left the first time, he got in his car and follow them, and sat outside there house until he truly knew where she was staying, anyone able to help me?

[ccsmod15]

Hello there,
Thanks for reaching out to NRS on behalf of your girlfriend. It sounds like there is a lot going on in her home and that it is a toxic environment to be in. There are a lot of things that can determine the outcome of the situation, her age being one of them. We would like to know more about the situation to better help you and her. The best way for us to do that is either by phone or via our live chat. You can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us at www.1800RUNAWAY.org. Thanks again for being such a great advocate for her.
Hope to hear from you soon!
NRS

[Guest]

So I'm currently 16 years old I turned 17 in a couple months I want to move out by 17 to go back to Colorado and get my own apartment or house that can I legally pay with money that my father has left us after he died what paperwork would I need to get for my aunt to sign because she has guardianship over me and my brother I want to move out due to not being able to be a child since I've been living with her we are always fighting, there's constantly tension in the house I suffer from severe depression anxiety I can legally take care of myself because I have since I've been since I've been 16 my mom does supports me and and thinks I can legally support myself. What would I do and what would I need to do I do not get abused but it's not the right home for me

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

We’re really glad you reached out to NRS. Thank you for contacting us and sharing your story. It sounds like you’re going through a difficult situation at home and we will try our best to help you consider some other options.

We aren’t legal experts here, but we have a lot of experience working with youth in crisis and can speak generally on these topics. First of all, something to keep in mind is that once you turn 18, you will be an adult in Colorado and you will be able to live anywhere you’d like. If it’s possible for you to stay with your aunt until then, it may be the easiest option you can consider. If not, you would need the permission of your aunt to live somewhere else and she would have to help you with legally acquiring a new place to live, since she is your legal guardian and you are still a minor. On the other hand, you can 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. This can often be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. If you’d like us to help you find free legal aid you can give us a call 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us via the portal on our website: www.1800runaway.org. We have a large database with many legal aid resources that may be able to help.

In terms of your mental health struggles, we want you to know you are not alone. It takes tremendous strength to seek help and we’re glad you’ve shared this with us. Here is (https://www.summitstonehealth.org/) a Colorado-based crisis services provider where you can find therapy and peer support options. You can also consider SAMHSA (https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline), a national helpline for individuals facing mental disorders. Of course you can always reach out to us, here at NRS, as well.

Again, if you'd like to talk in more detail, you can do so directly by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY or through live chat at www.1800runaway.org. We're available 24/7 and are always happy to listen and help in the best way we can.

[Guest]

I moved out when I was 16 for a year and came back, if I provide proof of me being gone will I be able to leave my dads house to live with my mother in another state? I am 17 now I will be 18 in June. Is their anything the law could really do in this case?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

It seems you want to know more about runaway laws. 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 from your legal guardian. You mentioned that you want to leave your dad's house to live with your mom instead. If your dad is your legal guardian, he could report you as a runaway to the police in the event you leave without his permission. Running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. This means your dad could involve the police in efforts to have you returned home. Now, if your parents share custody then this might not be the case for you. We generally suggest that youth with legal questions about leaving home ask police or a legal expert for more specific information.

The easiest way to avoid this would be to get your dad's permission to leave. The second would be to involve child protective services if your safety is a concern. Lastly, you could pursue emancipation. Our understanding is that some states have emancipation statutes that allow you to act as a legal adult before turning 18 while others do not unfortunately. Emancipation can sometimes be a lengthy and difficult process and might even cost money in the way of court fees. A young person petitioning for emancipation would have to show the court they can live independently and financially provide for themselves. To learn more about the process in your state, you can ask a local court house for information or consult with a lawyer. We are happy to provide resources for legal aid if you contact us by phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY or live chat at our website 1800runaway.org

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

i’m 17 years old & me & my mom got into a argument , we butt heads about my boyfriend who’s 18 & me & him want to move in together but like i said , my mother absolutely despise him . i recently got her on recording saying that if i want to go no one is stopping me , so if i go & the law does get involved would there still be legal action taken place since i have that recording.

[ccsmod1]

Hello!

Thanks for reaching out to the NRS. We're sorry to hear that you're fighting with your mother. It sounds like recently things have come to a head because of a disagreement over your boyfriend and you would prefer to move out. It can be hard when it feels like you aren't being heard.

We aren't legal experts here at NRS, but in general, because you are 17, you are still a minor. So even if you have a recording of your mother saying you can go, it is still within her rights to file a missing persons report if you go off the radar. The police will be able to pick you up and release you to her. Additionally, it is also possible that your boyfriend may get into trouble for harboring a runaway, so that is also something you may want to take into consideration. However, it's good that you had the initiative to decide and reach out to us about safety and legal considerations before taking action.

Some other possible considerations are where your boyfriend is located in comparison to where you are. Will it be difficult arranging transportation to where he is and if you do need to leave, do you have a reliable way of getting around? Also, how do you plan on supporting yourself financially once you leave home? In these sorts of situations, it's important to consider all the variables that come with a big decision. One way to best flesh out one of these situations is talking to a trusted adult or even a friend about what you're feeling and what you are planning to do.

If you have more questions or just want to talk about your situation more with one of our representatives, feel free to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or chat with us at 1800runaway.org.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Im in Orange county Texas and both of my parents have given me permission to move out the only issue is it's my boyfriend who's a the way in Indiana. They have given me Their Full consent to let me go live with him. Would I have to get Any Form of Permission or anything? Or could I leave Right now without anything but their Consent.

[ccsmod15]

Hello! Thanks for contacting the NRS. We are glad that you are being thorough with the process of moving out.

We aren't legal experts here at NRS, but in general, because you are 17 though, you are still a minor. So even if your parents give you permission right now, it is still within their rights to change their mind and even file a missing persons report if you go off the the radar. The police will be able to pick you up and release you back to your parents. One way to protect yourself if their minds suddenly change is getting written and notarized permission from you parents. If you want to become a legally independent entity before 18, you could seek emancipation. The two broad things you need to do usually are to prove that you can manage your own affairs and show that you have already lived at least partially independently from your parents. You can likely search for state-specific information online.

If you have more questions or just want to talk about your situation more with one of your representatives, feel free to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or what with us at 1800runaway.org.

[Guest]

Im 17 and my mom has given me permission to move into my boyfriends parents home. He is 16. his parents welcomed me into their home with open arms. recently he got in trouble and the court is making me move out be im 17 and hes 16. can they do that when i have parental consent? (we are only 4 months apart)

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

Thanks ever so much for reaching out to us. We are so sorry that you are being asked to move out despite the fact that your parents gave you permission to move in with your boyfriend and his family. It sounds like you have questions about whether you can be court ordered to move out. Although we cannot tell you what to do, we will do our best to share information that might help you figure out your next steps.

Because we are not legal experts and the laws can vary from state to state, it would be difficult for us to tell you whether or not the court can order you to leave your boyfriend's family home. One option to get more information on what you can do about your situation is to reach out to your local Children and Family Services agency or your local Legal Aid office. They may be able to tell you what the process is for a minor to live outside of their legal guardian's home (for example, whether their consent needs to be in writing), and what your options are if you and your parents agree that you should go back to your boyfriend's family home.

Whatever you decide, please 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 as safe as possible as you figure out your next steps. You can best reach us 24/7 by phone at 1.800.RUNAWAY (786.2929) or via chat at www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). We are here to listen, here to help.

Stay safe!
-NRS