I'm 15 and want to move out

hi, im 14 and i’ve considered running away previously but never seriously up until now because i’ve learned a lot about myself that my very religious mother definitely wouldn’t approve of.
but i have two cats and two 80lb dogs, no way im ever going to leave them behind. the dogs and the younger cat would definitely do just fine, but i’m worried about my other cat who is pretty old (probably 13+)
i also don’t know how i would, pretty much just a child find safe housing on my own let alone with four pets.
help?

[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

Im 15 , can i move into a friends house legally with out parent permission in New York state ???

[ccsmod1]

Hi,

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 sounds like your family has been making it difficult to live at home, and that you feel unsafe living there. We're sorry to hear that you've been going through that at home. First and foremost, safety is our top priority at NRS. If you feel you are ever in an unsafe situation at home, please contact local emergency services and authorities immediately. It may help to speak to a school counselor, contact social services, or talk to another adult outside the home about what has been happening to learn more about abuse reporting. If you feel like this is an option you want to explore, you may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/. We can also help you to file a report if that’s the route you are considering.

Secondly, it also sounds like you feel your family is contributing to your mental health issues and that you have self-harmed because of it. Again, at NRS, your safety and well-being is our biggest concern. A great resource is the Crisis Text Line, which is a free, 24/7 and confidential crisis line that is available online, since you stated you do not have a phone. A crisis counselor will respond immediately and help if you are feeling down, feel like self-harming, or having suicidal thoughts. Their website is www.crisistextline.org and you can also message them through Facebook Messenger by messaging “HOME”.

Third, it seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you may feel like running away. 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 parents 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 in your county, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions. If you are looking for legal aid help in your area, a great resource is contacting United Way by calling 211. United Way is a free and confidential service available 24/7 that you can contact to find local resources in your area.

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,

Im a fifteen year old female who doesn’t get any privacy, my parents are alcoholics, they allow my brother to abuse me and say I deserve it. They constantly body shame me making me starve myself for a week at a time. They broke my door out of rage then yelled at me and continued to scream. My room was my only safe place from my brother and now my door doesn’t shut let alone lock. I need out they’ve brought me to a point of self harm and attempts I don’t wanna be here please is there anything I can do to leave.

[ccsmod16]

Hi there!
First of all, thank you for reaching out to NRS today. We know it can be a scary and difficult thing to do. It takes a lot of courage! We are so sorry to hear you are struggling so much at home. Being yelled at and hurt are not ways to make someone feel safe at home, and everyone deserves to live in a safe and supportive household. You are brave for sharing your story and advocating for yourself.
You mention hurting yourself 3 times. Your safety is our first priority here at NRS. In the case that you ever feel unsafe to yourself, a great resource to reach out to (available 24/7) is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can reach them at 800-273-8255.
In terms of leaving home, it is not illegal to run away. As you mentioned, however, at age 15 you are still under the legal custody of your parents and they may decide to file a runaway report with the police. In this case, the police may go looking for you and if they do find you, they may decide to bring you back home. To learn more about the policy of the police in terms of runaway reports in your area, you can reach out to your local police station’s non-emergency number.
Lastly, if you want to talk about your situation more in depth or gather more resources, you can always reach out to us through live chat by clicking the chat option on our website, 1800runaway.org or calling out to us at 1-800-RUNAWAY(786-2929). We would be happy to discuss the situation with you and see if we can think of some other options. We are here for you and do not want you to feel scared in your own home.
Best of luck and stay strong,
NRS

I'm a 15 year old male. I want to move out from my fathers house. The house hold is very toxic especially his girlfriend and her 5 kids. All he does is get home and drink but when i get home from practice i get yelled at for not doing chores "correctly" and im completely exhausted. He physically and verbally abuses me but the physical abuse has gone down. I have tried to kill myself 3 times now and all he does is call me "dumb" and "stupid" i cant talk to him about how i feel without him making fun of me. I just dont like how he treats me and i just want to move out. I have no place to go because i wanna stay away from the rest of my family as they are all the same like my dad. Are there any tips about moving out or running away?

[ccsmod5]

Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out, and for being there for your girlfriend when it seems she needs support.
It sounds like you are interested in emancipation. We are not legal experts, but we can help you get a general sense of how emancipation works. Our general understanding is some states offer formal emancipation statutes while others do not unfortunately. Laws vary depending on your location, but in many states a minor can petition the court for emancipation to take responsibility for their own care before they turn 18.
Generally speaking, courts are wary about granting emancipation. In most cases, the minor would have to prove in court that they have an income and can care for themselves financially, and that they are able to live separately from their parents. It also helps to be in good standing at school. The court will also factor in the mental and physical welfare of her parents in order to establish her best interest. Usually the legal guardian would have to agree to this in court, but considering the situation your girlfriend is in they may take the alcoholism into consideration. Once a minor are emancipated, they can legally choose where they live, but they might still find that they cannot sign a lease or build credit until they turn 18. The emancipation process can take several months or up to a year, and may cost money in the form of court fees and other expenses.
Usually, the best way to learn about emancipation in your state is to contact a lawyer. You may also find information at your county family court. We can look up legal aid resources that may be able to help you with the process. Please do not hesitate to call or chat if you have questions, need legal resources, or need to talk. We can explore your situation, go over all your options, and come up with a plan and resources to deal with your situation over the phone or on live chat. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.

Stay safe,
NRS

my girlfriend is 15 but turns 16 in september. both of her parents are really aggressive alcoholics. even sober her mom is physically and verbally abusive and threatens her all the time. i turn 18 in october. is there any way that she could get emancipated with those terms?

[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 with your mom's boyfriend. 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.
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

I’m 15 and I just cannot live with my mom anymore. And legally I cannot live with my father. This household is so toxic and drains all my happiness out of me and I just cannot take it anymore. She always submits to her boyfriend, whatever he wants she does it and doesn’t even think twice about how I would feel. Her boyfriend does not respect my privacy and I’ve told her multiple times since he started living with us that she needs to talk to him about it and she never does

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. 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. If you would like to learn more about this process and what CPS might be able to do help, you can speak with an advocate at an organization called Child Help (childhelp.org; 1-800-422-4453). 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.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,
NRS
.

Don,t want to stay in my parents house.

[ccsmod13]

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 sounds like being at home is very overwhelming and see you’re wanting to move away. You also mentioned being harmed. You don’t deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

We are not legal experts but typically if you are under 18 and decide to runaway, your parents can file a runaway report. You will not be arrested but if a report is made, the police may try to bring you home. Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best

We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,

I don’t feel safe I’m 15 I want to move out my parents physically abuse me and it hurts my feelings whenever I do homework I don’t have time they tell me go do this and that and I’m getting bad grades and they say it’s your fault but it’s my parents I don’t really have time to study. I do chores but my mom says no one helps me with anything in this house. She throws shoes at me kicks my thighs and my dad hits me please tell me tips