Moving out at 17 in Michigan

[Guest]

Hi I’m turning 17 in 3 months and I am living in a mentally abusive home and I was wondering if I could legally leave at 17 and live with my boyfriend I’m in mi and I’ve down research that says the police can’t force you back home

[ccsmod5]

Hello,

Thanks for contacting NRS. It sounds like you’ve already done some research. Have you already contacted the local police department to see how they handle runaways locally? Usually (no always), police to not return 17 year olds back home unless the parent firmly pushes for it. Please note that we are not legal experts. There are legal services and advisement in MI. You can always call 211 on a phone or go to 211.org to find them. Or you can contact us via chat and we can provide you with that information.



It’s also an option for your boyfriend’s parents (if applicable) to communicate with your parents. That may or may not help the situation. If you ever need someone to talk to you can text 741741 to the Crisis Text Line. As mentioned you can also contact us for more detailed help if you need it at anytime. We are available 24/7 at 1-800-runaway or through a live chat on our website www.1800runaway.org.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

hello i just turned 17 and i have a good income and i have a place that will take me in until my boyfriend turns 18 and gets a apartment for us my house hold is vervaly abusive and it affects me mentally,my parents dont hit me but i have no choice but to leave would i get sent back home if i leave?

[ccsmod3]

Hi there, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you are experiencing mental and verbal abuse at home and you never deserve to be treated that way. It also sounds like you are wanting to leave your house and be somewhere you feel safer and are not being abused and we are glad that you have a safe place you would be allowed to stay. Legally, since you are under 18, if your parents don’t give permission for you to stay somewhere else, they could file a runaway report with police and if you are found, you would likely be brought back home. An option is to also report the abuse you are experiencing to child protective services, we can help with that process if it’s something you are interested in. If you would like to talk more about what you are experiencing or possible options, 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]

Is It illegal for a 17 to move out without emancipation?

[ccsmod3]

Hi there, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you are wanting to move out of your house. The best way to move out legally is with your parent/guardian permission. Until you are 18, if you were to leave without their permission, they could file a runaway report with police and you could be forced to go back home. It also can sometimes depend based on what the situation is and we can best help with more information. So if you would like to talk more about it and possible options, please either 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 have this Friend, who's going through some things right now, and their home life isn't the best. It's filled with abuse both verbal and physical. I live in Kalamazoo, Michigan and I was wondering what're the consequences for running away at 17. The laws formally say that aiding and abetting is illegal for anyone younger than 17 years please advise.

[ccsmod11]

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

Hi,
Thanks so much for reaching out to us. It sounds like you’re looking for some advice on how to help your friend. It sounds like you’re a really great friend for reaching out on their behalf and wanting to help them out.

First of all, it sounds like your friend might be being abused at home. If you would like to, you can file an abuse report on their behalf against their abusers and an investigation can be launched. This report would be completely anonymous. Feel free to do some research on your own if you’re interested in learning more, or we would love to chat with you here at NRS to walk you through the process or file a report for you.

It also sounds like your friend might be thinking about leaving home. This is a very difficult and personal decision and we support them no matter what they choose, but safety is very important to us. If they do choose to leave, we ask they reach out to us via online chat or by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) to get personalized and confidential help.

Here are the legal things you need to know: if your friend does choose to leave home without their guardian’s permission, their guardians could choose to file a runaway report with the police. The police will then find them and bring them home. Although they wouldn’t get in any trouble with the law, there is a possibility that any person they are staying with could be charged with harboring a runaway, which is a criminal charge. This issue goes away once they turn 18, since Michigan they will be considered an adult. Since your friend is 17, there’s a chance the police will take less action if the runaway report is filed since your friend is so close to being 18, but this just depends on the individual police officer that handles the case.

The way to get around the police bringing your friend home would be to get written permission from their guardian (an email, text, note, etc) stating that your friend can stay with those specific people. That way if their guardians decide to press charges, you have proof that they gave them permission.

If your friend is looking for a place to go, here are some options they may consider:

1. Going to stay with a trusted friend or family member for a while
2. Finding a youth emergency shelter and staying there until you can figure out next steps (we can help with this)
3. Moving out with parental permission
4. Staying home and doing what they can to make the most out of the last months until they turn 18 so that they can be as successful as possible when they move out.

We would love to hear more about your story and give you more personalized and confidential help, but we’ll do the best we can below. 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).

Good luck!
NRS

[Guest]

If I can prove, I’m being domestically abused, either verbally, or physically can I leave home in Michigan at 17? like if I could prove they were putting my life in danger. because I have a disease and they keep trying to put me on a diet that could kill me. and my mother tried to kill me. I have two jobs and I’m in online school.

[ccsmod15]

Hi, thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline and sharing your story. We know that takes a lot of bravery.

You do not deserve to live in a home where you feel unsafe. If you are interested in reporting the domestic abuse you can do so by completing an abuse report on your own at www.childhelp.org or we could file one with you or on your behalf if you would like to give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us at our website. CPS will usually investigate the report within 24-48 hours, but how they will respond can be difficult to predict. If you would like to know how your local police department would respond to you leaving home you could give them a call at their non-emergency number and propose your situation as a hypothetical. If you would like to give us a call, we could also make such a call with you or on your behalf. If you left home, your parents could file a runaway report, meaning you would be returned home if found. When leaving home it can be important to consider where you are going, how you are getting there, and what you are bringing with you like money, important documents, and school supplies. In terms of where to stay you can consider reaching out to friends, other family members, or shelters, which we can help you find if you want to give us a call or chat with us at our website. In terms of transportation, you can consider public transportation, rideshare, a bike, or a friend or family member. It is so impressive that you have two jobs and are in school. Because you are able to support yourself, you could consider emancipation from your parents. The process can be long and costly, but if you would like to give us a call or chat with us at our website we could refer you to some resources.Thank you again for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline.

You are incredibly strong. Feel free to reach out to us again anytime by giving us a call or chatting with us at our website as we are available 24/7 and are completely confidential. Best of luck!