16 yr old in Georgia

I'm 16 and I'm going to NYC with my grandmother I told I don't want to go back home

[ccsmod13]

Hello,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a post on our bulletin board! While we are not legal experts by any means, we can share our knowledge of runaway laws for minors.

Generally speaking, your parents are your legal guardians until you turn 18, so they can decide where you live. If you do choose to leave without permission, your parents can report you as a runaway to the police. Running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. This means that if your parents know where you are staying then they can have the police return you home.

The easiest way to leave home as a minor is with your parents’ permission. In this case, they would be allowing you to live somewhere else where you are safe and being cared for. A helpful step is to start reaching out to friends and family members you might be able to stay with. Sometimes having an adult advocate on your side can make communicating your needs more effective to your parents. Perhaps an adult family member, a friend's parent or a counselor at school can talk to your parents with you about your experience at home and the possibility of you leaving.

You mentioned that you want to leave due to not feeling safe. This is a tough spot to be in, but reaching out for more information was a really great first step. You deserve to be treated in a way that makes you feel safe and supported. If you are experiencing any form of abuse a helpful resource might be Child Help. Child Help is an organization that advocates for young people in abusive and unhealthy situations. You can contact them at 1-800-422-4453 or go to childhelphotline.org to talk more about strategies for coping with abuse and having a trusted adult intervene.

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.

We wish you the best,
NRS

Hello, Im a 16 year old in Georgia who no longer feels safe at home and want to run away and live with my best friend. I tried researching the topic since Im 16, but Im finding mixed results. Can anyone help me out?

[ccsmod3]

Thank you for reaching out to us. It sounds like you want to know that the consequences are if a youth was to runaway and they are under 18. 18 years old is generally the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian. We are not legal experts here but we can speak in general terms. If the youth is under 18 and leaves the home without permission, the parent/guardian may file a runaway report with the police. What actions the police take once the youth is filed as a runaway can vary a lot from state to state and even city to city so we cannot predict exactly what would happen in your case. Generally speaking, if the youth encounters a police officer while reported as a runaway, they will likely be returned home. However, in that case there may be services (family counseling, etc.) available to you as a youth in crisis/runaway but again, police procedures related to offering those services can be different based on the location or the details of the situation. Another thing to consider is that while running away is not a crime, a legal adult who allows the youth to stay with them may be putting themselves at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway. One way to find out the laws in your area is to call your local police and ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth.

Hello I know a child who is 16 and wants to leave home with her custodial parent(mom) wants to know if she takes this action to live with her noncustodial parent (dad) will she be forced to go back with her mother ...
GEORGIA is the state I need answers for please and thank you. She's trying to leave now but the dad doesnt want to have that counted against him

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to NRS. From what you shared, you have been doing your best to do research and find a way for you to safely live somewhere else. Your hard work and resourcefulness is really admirable.

You mentioned that there is abuse at home and you want to report it. You are really brave for pursuing this to better your situation. Taking pictures and having witnesses was very smart of you and a good idea. If you would like help reporting and support with the process, you can contact the national child abuse hotline at 1-800-422-4453 or go to www.childhelphotline.org.

From what you shared, it sounds like the police where you live do not consider individuals who are 16 and older to be runaways. You can always double check this by calling the non-emergency number for the local police department to ask anonymously. Generally speaking, if you left without your parent or guardian's permission while still considered a minor, they can report you as a runaway. You would not be arrested, but the police would likely return you home.

We are here 24/7 to be a support for you while you navigate this challenging time. You can reach us by phone or use our live chat services anytime if you would like support deciding on your next steps.

Be safe,
NRS

Im 14 and im trying to get out of the home but because im not 16 or older i cant do anything. My friend and I are working up a case against her for child abuse and possibly neglect. I haven't looked up the second one all to much, however for the abuse case we have pictures of bruises and my brother had it happen to him, along with 3 witnesses of it happening including my brother. We´re trying to get me to her mom´s house here or her dad house in North Carolina, however theres nothing anyone can do till im sixteen that we know of. is it possible to get out sooner without parent permission? My birth father isnt an option, and my grandmother is in an old people resort so she isnt an option. the only other option would be my brother because hes 18 - he left the house at 16 and officially moved out at 17. would this be enough to go possibly leave sonner than 16?

[ccsmod15]

Hi, thank you for reaching out to us; we are glad that you did. It sounds like you are thinking of running away but have some questions about what is would mean legally, especially for your boyfriend. We want to help you and answer your questions the best way we can, but because we can’t talk back and forth with you through the forum, we don’t have enough information to answer.
We hope that you will reach out to us either by phone at 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY), or with our live chat service through www.1800runaway.org This way we can better understand your situation and help you identify the options that you have and to try to answer your questions.
We are here for you 24/7 to listen and to help. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
NRS

Hey I’m 17 and I’m thinking about running away. And staying with my boyfriend. Would he get in trouble???

[ccsmod7]

Hi there!

It looks like you might have contacted NRS today through another means (for example, live chat, email or bulletin) for the same issue. Thank you so much for reaching out so we can have a conversation. You seem like an amazing friend. NRS understands it takes courage to reach out for help; therefore, we would like to minimize the need for you to repeat your situation and avoid offering you duplicate services. Please know we are always here if you or your friend have any other questions, need support, or if you need resources.

Best of luck,

NRS

my friend is 16 and she’s in a household that is forcing her to stop talking to her significant other because he’s black she’s being cursed at and she’s miserable we live in the state of georgia what would consequences be if she did leave home without her mother knowing. if she was going to stay at a friends house until she figured things out ?

[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. 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 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS

Hi I’m 15 I’m thinking about running away from home , I’m in a very bad environment and I need out . Can I get in legal trouble for running away ? And can the people I’m in a stay w get in trouble ? I live in Georgia

[ccsmod4]

Reply:Hi there. I’m 16 and I live in Georgia.


Hello,
Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.

In most states 18 years old is the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian. A person under the age of 18 leaving home without permission, a parent/guardian may file a runaway report with the police. What actions the police take once you are filed as a runaway can vary a lot from state to state and even city to city.

Generally speaking, a minor that encounters a police officer while reported as a runaway, may likely be detained until they can be returned home. Another thing to consider is that while running away is not a crime, a legal adult who allows a runaway to stay with them may be putting themselves at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway. A good way to find out the laws in your area is to call the non-emergency number of your local police and ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth.
We are not legal experts and can only offer general information about entering in to legal contracts as a minor. In most states a minor cannot enter into a contract such as a lease agreement such as a lease etc. We hope this information is helpful.

NRS is here to listen and here to help.
If you would like to speak more about your situation please contact us.
To contact NRS call 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or live chat with us at www.1800Runaway.org

Take care,
NRS

Hi there. I’m 16 and I live in Georgia. My parent doesn’t want me to move out, so emancipation is off my list. I cannot afford an attorney.

I am able to provide for myself, I have a stable job. I wanted to know if there is any legal way for my parent to force me to live with them. I can provide for myself, so I thought that was reason enough. Can my parent force me to stay with them or make the cops look for me?

I was also curious as to if 16 year olds are allowed to rent apartments. I looked everywhere online, but I couldn’t find answers. I hope you can help me. Thank you in advance.