Can I leave my home at 16 without my parents' consent?

[Guest]

I am currently 16 and I will move out before my 17 birthday could I or no but I will be living with my other relatives until I get on my feet and out of school.

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today. Sounds like you are wanting to move in with a relative before you turn 18. Here at NRS, we truly want to inform you and support you during this difficult time.

Generally speaking, the easiest way you can move in with them is with your guardian's permission. If you leave without permission, that is when you could be considered a runaway.We are not legal experts here but we can speak in general terms. If you are under 18 and leave home without permission, your 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 so we cannot predict exactly what would happen in your case. Generally speaking, if you encounter a police officer while reported as a runaway, you will likely be returned home. Another thing to consider is that while running away is not a crime, a legal adult who allows you 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.

Please do not hesitate to call or chat if you have questions, need 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.

1-800-RUNAWAY; www.1800runaway.org

-NRS

[Guest]

I’m about to be 17 in 3 months. I live with my mother and step-father. My father died In January of this year. I live in Alabama. My mom mentally abuses me. She talks about my weight and all. I don’t want to live with her anymore. I want to move out and live with someone else but I don’t want them to get in any trouble. Can I move out without her consent now?

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out to us; we are glad that you did. We are very sorry to hear that your dad died this year. That alone is hard to deal with, but then it sounds like living with your mom and step-father has made everything even harder. You don’t deserve to be mentally abused and criticized for your weight.

It is understandable that you want to live with her anymore. In general, because the age of majority for Alabama is 19, if she is your legal guardian, you would’t be able to leave until then without her consent.

We would really like to talk with you about your situation. It sounds so very difficult for you and we are here to listen and help. The very best way for us to help is if we can talk together. We can do that if you either call us at our hotline at 1800-786-2929 (1800-RUNAWAY) or via live chat through www.1800runaway.org

We truly hope to hear from you soon.
NRS

[Guest]

In the state of Wisconsin can I leave my home without consent? I am 15 and my parents have given me mental abuse since day one, a good example is I was taking one of our dogs outside to go to the bathroom and my mom told me not to let the other dog outside because she was mad at it and he accidentally got out and my mom said ok so obviously I went outside to get him got him back inside and to keep our puppy out and I came back inside to find my mother fuming and my father’s ar-15 on the counter and she told me we are getting rid of the dog and I said ok assuming she meant to a farm and she said ok plug ur ears. She was going to shoot my dog right in front of me in the house. Another instance she told my father that if I had half a brain maybe I would not screw up, she doesn't love me and only loves my brother. I want to wait till 16 so I can drive but my main question is can I go live with a friend who's family loves me if I get emancipated by a court?

[ccsmod4]

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. The actions portrayed by your mother is sounds horrible. You don’t deserve to be abused and made to feel afraid. It’s not your fault that this is going on. It does not sound like your father provides any support to you or tries to intervene.
Your safety and the safety of others are important and there are services that you might consider contacting if you would like help.

If you’re feeling unsafe and need a safe place to go and talk to someone, you may wish to visit The National Safeplace website (www.nationalsafeplace.org). This organization provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for youth in need. You can look up your city and state to see if there are any safe places near you listed. So that is always an option if you feel like talking to someone in person about what has been going on or if you just need a safe place to stay.

You also may use your phone to text the word “safe” and your current location (city/state/zip) to 44357. If there are safe places and shelters nearby, a list of those will be sent to your phone and you may have the option to text back and forth with a trained counselor as well.

You can also file an abuse report with CPS. And if you have saved the messages from your mother they may serve as evidence for your case. To file an abuse report contact Child Help 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org

There are no emancipation laws in the state of Wisconsin that we are aware of but you might look for legal aid centers in your state on line for more information

NRS is here to listen and here to help. If you would like to talk more about your situation contact us at 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or www.1800runaway.org (Live chat).

If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to:
9-1-1 or seek emergency assistance immediately.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi. I'm 16 but turning 17 this September, I live in Utah and I just want to know if I can leave home. I have no way of getting emancipated but I do have a couple of friends I could possibly stay with. I dropped out of school a few months ago and I'm honestly just struggling right now in the environment I'm in. My step-dad is becoming more aggressive towards our cats but I'm afraid it might evolve and it might get directed at us. My mother doesn't do a thing about it either and she loves him too much to leave. I love her to pieces but she's been mildly emotionally abusive my entire childhood. I don't want to confront them either cause it'll do nothing. I just want to leave a note telling them not to bother to look for me and just go off the radar with my friends. We're actually moving within the month supposedly (I dunno how we're gonna do that with quarantine) but I feel like that might be the perfect time to get out of here, but again, I don't want my parents to get suspicious or the police to get involved. Though it'll be hard cause my mother is working from home while COVID-19 is going around and my step-dad barely works and is home all day and night, and now he sleeps in the living room outside my room for whatever dumb reason. He's a heavy sleeper but sometimes the smallest things wake him up. If you could offer any advice, that would be awesome and really appreciated.

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today. Sounds like you are unhappy with your living environment due to your stepdad seeming more aggressive and feeling like your mom can be emotionally abusive at times. That cannot be easy to deal with, here at NRS we truly want to support you and inform you the best we can during this difficult time.

You mentioned wanting to leave home without police involved and without going through the emancipation process. The main way you could do that is through getting your mom's permission to move. If you haven't already you might try to see if she would allow you to stay with those friends. If you have any other family members you can stay with, you might ask for permission to stay with them or to ask them if they can help talk to your mom for you. Generally speaking, your mom might be more open to the idea if you were to move in with an adult she already knows and trusts.

That has to be frustrating that you are having to be around your stepdad so much. If you haven't already, you might try to strategize on how to stay away from him throughout the day. If you haven't already, you might try to talk to your mom about how having to be around him so much is taking a toll on you so that she could help seperate you some, or have him sleep elsewhere. Your feelings should be heard.

Please do not hesitate to call or chat us if you need any resources or support. We are always here for you.

1-800-RUNAWAY; www.1800runaway.org

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

Hello ) I am a 14 year old girl and I really want to die BECAUSE of my mother. All she ever does is degrade me and call me names like

Idiot
Disappointment
It really hurts. I tend to keep my emotions bottled up and she hates that, since she has to be up my ass 24/7. She likes to play the--'all you ever do is want to be alone in your room' card and I am sick of it. I literally want to pack my things and leave.
ANOTHER THING! She degraded everything I like. I'll tell her I am interested in a certain horror game like FNAF or Creepypasta and she makes fun of me and called is 'stupid' and 'inappropriate' BUT she let's my 6 year old brother play CALL OF ********ING DUTY where you can see a guy dismember another guy. Hell, she let's him watch rated R movies I want to pack up and walk somewhere private and kill myself. I am hurting and I want freedom. Granted, she does feed me and keep a roof over my head, she is just emotionally abusive.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you 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 really difficult time right now.
You do not deserve to be degraded and told such awful things we are sorry that you are having to deal with all of that. You do have a right to file an abuse report as this is considered emotional abuse. You do have a few options to file an abuse report. One option to consider is to call Child Help at: 1800-422-4453, and they would be able to help you file a report. Another option would be to call or chat with us and we can help with a report.
We know you mentioned suicide, and we want you to know that you are not alone. Your life is valuable and you are worth living. Suicide is a permanent decision to a temporary situation. If you are feeling suicidal or just need someone to talk to you can contact The National Suicide Prevention Hotline. They can be reached at 1800-273-8255.
We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. Stay strong in this!
NRS

[Guest]

Hi, I'm 15 and I live in Oklahoma, I live with my grandparents, they adopted me, and I don't exactly have their consent to leave yet but, I don't think that will be a problem, what I'm really worried about is where I want to go. I was taken from my dad in 2012, and I really want to live with him, would that be illegal? And also would I be able to switch to a new school instead of going to the same one? I have been thinking about this a lot and I cant seem to find any answers. Any advice is helpful.

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for taking the time to share a post on our Bulletin here at NRS. It sounds like you are planning on leaving but you have some questions about making a plan. While we are not legal experts, we can speak generally on the questions you mentioned. Hopefully having more information on leaving will help you think more on your next steps.

If you leave without permission your grandparents can report you as a runaway. Running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. This means that your grandparents can ask that police return you home. While you would not get into any trouble, whoever you stay with is at risk of being charged with harboring a runaway.

The easiest way to leave home and live somewhere else is with your guardian's permission. Your grandparents can give their permission for you to live with another adult as long as you are safe and being cared for. You would also need their consent to switch schools.

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.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 16 and I live in Georgia. I live with my mom and step dad. I’m the oldest and not his kid. My mother is very very emotionally and mentally abusive. And I can’t stay here anymore. I’ve been trying to leave for years and I’m worried if I stay here any longer she might actually drive me to harm myself further than she already does. My biological father lives in Florida. He doesn’t have custody of me and knows about all of this. I would go stay with him but my mother won’t let me and I don’t want him to get in trouble when she calls the cops. I looked into emancipation for 4 years and realized my younger siblings would be taken out of the house and I don’t want that. I’ve been told running away at 16 in Georgia is perfectly legally but I don’t really trust the people I heard that from. I have a little bit of money I hide from my mom cause she won’t give me access to what I made before she got me fired. I have a couple peoples houses I can go to but I don’t want anyone to get into trouble for letting me stay with them. And I would get my own place but I don’t have access to any of my money. I’m kinda screwed and this is my last option. I won’t make it another month here. And I don’t want it to come to that. So please tell me what I can do to get out of here.

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out. Sounds like you are really going through it at home with your mom and you are feeling like you might harm yourself if you stay.

Your safety and well-being is important. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255); www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org is also a great resource to reach out to in addition to our crisis services at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

It sounds like you are feeling like the emancipation process isn't an option for you because you are thinking your siblings will be taken out of the house. Generally speaking, that is not the case for emancipation. Your siblings would only be affected if you reported abuse to CPS and they found the abuse to be highly dangerous to all of you. If you ever did decide to report the emotional abuse, you could let them know that your siblings are not victims of it. Emancipation is the costly court process of proving to a judge that you are financially self-sufficent and able to function as an adult without assistance. So unfortunately, the main thing you would need for emancipation is having income.

Also you mentioned folks are telling you that you can run in Georgia at 16, but you aren't sure if that is true. We are not legal experts, but we can speak generally. So in Georgia, you can still be listed as a runaway up until you turn 18. However, it is up to local police with whether or not they would look for you and return you home. You might try to reach out to local police, and ask if they would return you home if you leave. If they wouldn't return you home, then it would be really hard for your dad to get in trouble for you staying with him. However, if they would return you home, he could be at risk of having your mom attempt to press harboring a runaway charges against him.

Please do not hestiate to call or chat us if you would like to talk through your situation. We are always here for you.

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

Am I able to move out at 16 if I dont like living with my mom I just don't like the stuff she does and I'm never emotionally stable in this house because of the stuff she says so can I ? My uncle says I can move in with him and he's like a dad to me and his children are like my siblings and whenever I'm with them they make me feel safe but the only thing holding me back Is that I can't transfer myself to different schools.what should I do ?

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to us. We are sorry things aren't going well at home with your mom. That truly is frustrating and we honor your feelings. It's great that you have a supportive uncle and cousins, though.

To answer your question very directly: there is no state in the US where the age of majority is less than 18. This means you are under your parent or legal guardian’s supervision until you are at least 18. If you leave home without permission before then, your parents could file a runaway report on you. Running away isn’t a crime, but it is a status offense like breaking curfew. If found, the police would likely bring you back home. Perhaps more seriously, anyone you stay with could be accused of harboring a runaway, which is a misdemeanor in most localities. We don’t share this information to persuade you in any way, but only to give you some things to think about.

One alternative to running away would be to simply ask your parents if you could live elsewhere. If they grant you permission you may want to get it in writing. Of course, even if they give you permission to live somewhere else, they do have the right to ask you to come home at any time. If you do decide to ask them if you could leave you may want to give your request some thought beforehand and think of a good time to ask them. Maybe you could even try to persuade them that they might be better off if you lived somewhere else. These are just some ideas. You know your situation best.

Another option would be to try to seek emancipation before you turn 18. This is usually a lengthy process and involves getting a lawyer and going through the court system. Usually you have to prove that you are able to provide for your own physical, emotional, and educational needs and that you are mature enough to make this decision. In most states you still have to be at least 16 or 17 in order to file for emancipation. If you’d like more information on emancipation for your state you can contact us by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us online via the portal at www.1800runaway.org. We can then forward you a legal aid resource for your state that can answer whatever questions you have about emancipation.

We hope this information helps. Please contact us if you’d like to talk about your situation some more. There may be other options that we can think of if we work together. Again, our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY and you can chat with us at www.1800ruanway.org. We’re confidential, never tell you what to do, and are a safe place to talk.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 15 almost 16. Will I be able to move out when I am 16. I am not liking where I am living . I am basically doing everything in around the house, my parents don't even help. My dad abuses me. He chokes me, hits me, throws me across the room. And start doing this when I was 8 years old. After my mom died it was 2012. I tried getting cops and cps involved but they never believed me. A couple months ago I tried to kill myself because of them. Oh yeah I have a step mom the punches me in the face. And no one wouldn't listen still. Everything I am with my parents. I want to kill myself and when I am away from my parents I feel like I am free. I am very afraid of my parents. I can't even sleep when they are up. I barely get any sleep because I am afraid My dad is going to come in my room and beat me. My room is the sun room so it leads straight to outside. So I am so close in running away. But I am wanting to wait until I am 16 so u can move out. Is it possible. My parents took me out of school because I kept going to School tell the teachers what they do to Me. After cps closed they took me out of school. So I am all alone my brothers and sister won't say anything because they are afraid too. But I am just done living with my parents , they just use me to beat me and clean the house. They won't let me have fun.like one tiny little thing I dont do or mess up. I get hit or choked. April 7th 2020. I was gone all day having fun mowing grass with my cousins and I come home to my parents scared that they were going to do something and my dad did. My dad hit me in the head with his head. And every since then I been dizzy, with a big headache and sometime I get a really bad sharp Pain in my shoulders. I just don't want to deal with this anymore. What can I do? I really need ur help since no one else will they will only make it worse. I need to move out on my own or move to my family or friends house. without parent consent. I know a family member that would really like me to come live with them and I know a couple of friends and parents that wouldn't mind if i come stay with them they love me. The only problem is I am so used to being used bossed around. Being mean to. But I am just tired of be beat, used, told what to do, what to say, who I can and can't talk to, hang out with, date. Can u plz help me. I can't live here anymore. So can i move out when I am 16?

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,
It seems like you have been through so much. It is never ok for your parents to hit you and treat you like that. It seems like you may have gotten a concussion from your dad hitting you a while ago, if you still have a headache from it you may have some brain swelling and you should probably go to a hospital and get that checked on. If your parents cause you physical harm you should call the police for protection, and document every time it happens and take pictures if you can to help build your case with CPS. You may want to talk to your siblings about it too and get there help talking to police about what’s been happening. If you have other neighbors or family who has witnessed these acts talk to them and try to get their help talking to police.
It seems like avoiding being home as much as possible in the meantime may be an option. Although its hard with COVID right now. There may be volunteering opportunities around that would be a good excuse to be away from them.
If your parents have removed you from school but are not providing you homeschooling or education that is a form of neglect and is also a reportable offense. Check out childhelp.org for more information about child abuse reporting that might give you more options than the first time you reported.
It seems like all this is leading to you feeling suicidal as well. We encourage you to call 911 or 1-800-273-8255 to reach the suicide prevention lifeline if those thoughts return or get worse.
As for directly moving out at 16 the two ways you could do that are with parent permission, or through emancipation. Emancipation usually involves proving to the courts that you can survive on your own with a job. Otherwise your parents can file a runaway report and police would be able to bring you back home. They are supposed to listen to you and any claims of abuse before they bring you home though.
There may be shelters that allow you to stay there without having to let your parents know where you are. You can look at https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org for more information
Hopefully this information is helpful. If you have more questions or just need to chat you can always reach out hotline at 1-800-786-2929.

[Guest]

Can I move out at 16. i am 15 right now but in three months i will be 16. My dad abuses me, He chokes me and hits me , throws me across the room sometimes puts me through walls. . I tell cps and the cops but they won't do anything , they believe the parent over me. April 7th 2020.I went out to have fun mowing grass with my cousins and I came home scared that my parents would do something and my dad did he hit me in the head with his head and ever since then I have a headache. I keep feeling dizziness, and a very bad sharp pain in my shoulders. I am out of school because I kept going to School telling the teachers what they were doing to me and i tried to kill myself because of my parents. The school called cps and after cps closed the case my parents pulled me out. Every time I am around my parents i want to kill myself. My parents make me do everything around the house. And theythink everything is my fault. He started abusing me when my mom died. She died December 5 2012. So I am left with my dad, my step mom, my little step brother mysister, my step brother but he lives with his dad. And my big brother he moved out. They won't say anything because they are afraid my dad is going to come after them and that we are going to get separated and put in a bad home, I am afraid of my parents but I am not going to give up until I know we are going to be safe, my cousins and my aunt want me to move in with them but I can't unless I have consent from my parents and they won't give it to me because they are too busy using me for cleaning and too beat me .I just don't want to live here more. I have aa lot of friends and family that wan me to move in with them even their parents. So can i move out at 16 without my parents permission? Since no one can help. All they do is talk to the parents and after they leave I get beat. I need to be moved where my parents won't be able to come near me without supervision. I am sooo scared to send this because if I can't leave and someone comes by the house to talk to my parents. I am going to be beat. I don't want to be beat anymore. Its already bad that it's hard to remember. Can u plz help me plz.

[ccsmod3]

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 you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now. It sounds like you’re fearing that the situation may end in suicide if things don’t change. Your safety and well-being is important. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255); www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org is also a great resource to reach out to in addition to our crisis services.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. This may be an isolating and lonely time for you, but 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 call or chat soon. Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe and stay strong,
NRS

[Guest]

Hey. I'm just having some issues at home and in 15 turning 16 soon and I have places to go if I need to but I have already been forced home one other time but i live in new hampshire and i just want to know if I can leave and live with my friend who has said I can live there and will they not get in trouble if I do?

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out,
It seems like hoe is hard right now and it is understandable to want to explore other options and see if there is a way to find a more comfortable situation. It is good to hear that you have friends who want to be supportive of you and help you out like that.
If you did leave now your parents could file a runaway report and have police bring you back. Yes there is a chance that your friend’s family could get in trouble for having you there. The charge they may be at risk of is Harboring a Runaway. We aren’t legal experts but from what we’ve heard that risk does go down if they don’t try to hide you from police if they came to look for you at their house. It might be worth reaching out to the police non-emergency line and asking how likely that risk is.
Hopefully this information is useful and helps clear up your options. If you have more questions or just need to vent about the situation you can always reach out to our hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

[Guest]

My boyfriend wants to move outta his parent home and move into my house a week before his 16 birthday if he has a job does he need a parents consent to move out.

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out to us; we are glad that you did.

It is hard to know from your message what circumstances your boyfriend wants to leave. If he is not safe at home, then there may be ways to get help for him. If he isn’t being hurt at home and he leaves, his parents can send the police and take him go home.

We would like to hear from him about what life is like for him and about what he might want help with. We are here to listen and help, and the best way for us to help you is by having a conversation with you either through our phone hotline or via live chat. You can reach us at 1800-786-2929 (1800-RUNAWAY) or chat at www.1800runaway.org We are here 24/7 and all of our services are confidential.

Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi, I’m a 16 year old girl in Nee Mexico. I have a job making minimum wage and sometimes a lot of tips. I pay for my own things, (car insurance, phone bill, buy my own things) and I have my own car. And I want to get away from my parents house because I simply cannot take it here anymore. My dad honestly couldn’t care less about me and my mom hates me for any reason she can find. She has made me feel suicidal before and I don’t want to end up attempting suicide, so can I move in with a friend without putting anyone through any major consequences? Also, if I ran away with my car, could my parents take it away from me because it’s technically not under my name?

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to us. We are sorry to hear it's a rough time right now at home and that you don't feel loved by your mom and dad. You deserve to be loved for who you are. When it feels like we get less than we deserve from those closest to us, it hurts.

We are pretty concerned when you talk about killing yourself. That's pretty serious. If you ever feel suicidal, please reach out for the help you deserve. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is staffed by people trained to talk about suicide, so they are a great resource. You can reach them at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org or call 1-800-273-8255. You can also reach out to us anytime to talk about suicide or anything else on your mind. We are confidential and open 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY or by chat at www.1800runaway.org. We want you to be safe. Things can get better and you have many options besides suicide.

To answer your question very directly: you are under your parent or legal guardian’s supervision until you are 18. If you leave home without permission before then, your parents could file a runaway report on you. Running away isn’t a crime, but it is a status offense like breaking curfew. If found, the police would likely bring you back home. Perhaps more seriously, anyone you stay with could be accused of harboring a runaway, which is a misdemeanor in most localities. We don’t share this information to persuade you in any way, but only to give you some things to think about.

One alternative to running away would be to simply ask your parents if you could live elsewhere. If they grant you permission you may want to get it in writing. Of course, even if they give you permission to live somewhere else, they do have the right to ask you to come home at any time. If you do decide to ask them if you could leave you may want to give your request some thought beforehand and think of a good time to ask them. Maybe you could even try to persuade them that they might be better off if you lived somewhere else. These are just some ideas. You know your situation best.

Another option would be to try to seek emancipation before you turn 18. This is usually a lengthy process and involves getting a lawyer and going through the court system. Usually you have to prove that you are able to provide for your own physical, emotional, and educational needs and the court must decide that it would be in your best interest to be emancipated. If you'd like more information about emancipation in New Mexico, you can call 1-800-340-9771 or talk to New Mexico Legal Aid at 1-505-982-9886.

As for your question involving your car and the car title: we can't say for sure, but if the title is in your parent's name they may be able to take it back from you. You might want to talk to the Motor Vehicles Division of New Mexico about that. Here's a link to their website: http://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/.

We hope this information helps. Please contact us if you’d like to talk about your situation some more. There may be other options that we can think of if we work together. Again, our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY and you can chat with us at www.1800ruanway.org. We’re confidential, never tell you what to do, and are a safe place to talk.

[Guest]

So as of right now I have so much going on and I've constantly dealt with my parents fighting. they both have been on drugs one stopped and one did not an lied to me he is also on probation and yet doesn't seem to care. My mom is currently missing last I knew she was trying to jump off of a bridge and living with my father isnt mentally healthy for me I've had so much stuff happen in the past 16 years I've been alive I just want to move out with my grandparents and hopefully be a normal teenager. I've filed multiple reports on him and nothing has happened I just want to forget all about him and i dont know how to move in with my grandparents

[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 must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension. It seems like there has been a history of instability from your parents and it must be overwhelming and exhausting to be around this for so long.

It may be beneficial to speak with your grandparents directly about your desire to live with them. Sometimes custody transfers will need to go through the family court system and it may be beneficial to speak with a legal advocate. If you need help locating a legal aid group near you you can check out https://www.lawhelp.org/find-help/.

It can be really hard to live with someone who struggles with addiction. We want you to know that you are not alone. If you’d like to talk to other young people who are dealing with friends or family members who have drug problems you can check out Narateen. You can find more information about this support group, or find a local meeting here: https://www.nar-anon.org/narateen-meetings-list

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.

We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to support youth and families. Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

If im 18 can i leave the house without my parents bring in the law?

[ccsmod13]

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us here at NRS. We are not legal experts, but we can speak generally on this. The age of majority or the age when you are considered a legal adult is 18 in most states. Unless you live in Mississippi, Alabama, or Nebraska you are likely considered an adult with the legal freedom to choose where you live. This means your parents cannot force you to stay at home.

If you would like to talk more about your situation and explore your options, please reach out to our hotline at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at 1800runaway.org. We are here 24/7 to listen and help.

Stay safe,
NRS