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

[Guest]

Im 15 turning 16 in a month and I want to leave my toxic household I have a Safe place to stay with my family member. My dad has mentally, physically, and sexually abused and me, my 17 year old brother, and mom are scared to leave because where scared of him because my brother is not my mom son he’s my dad son and my mom doesn’t have my custody because she gave it to him in order for me to come to this country but they’re still legally married and I don’t know what to do I just know I want to leave my phone in the most smart way possible where my dad won’t be able to bring me back.

[ccsmod15]

Hi,
Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are in a very hard situation at home, and are seeking to leave. We are glad you have contacted us for help.
It is important you know first of all that physical, emotional, and sexual abuse are never okay. You should not have to endure these abuses, nor be threatened with them, in your own home. You deserve to live somewhere where you are safe and comfortable, and we are so sorry this has not been the case for you for so long.
It sounds like there are some real concerns around custody issues in the family. We are not legal experts here, so we cannot speak to what may happen if you leave with Mom and your sibling without ensuring the proper custody arrangement. You may find it useful to talk to a lawyer. We can provide you with numbers for legal services that serve families and children in your state. Sometimes these lawyers will be able to talk for free over the phone and provide insight or advice. That said, you should not have to wait until custody is arranged to be safe from your Dad. You can, at any time, report these abuses to CPS. If you need information about this, or want to further understand it, or even if you are ready to report, you can start by calling Child Help at 1-800-422-4453. They are there to help you through this tough time. Child abuse reporting can have quick turn-around. Often a caseworker will be at your home to investigate within 48 hours. This is a strong solution then to the immediate danger you face at home.
We hope you have found some of this information useful. If you need more, or want to continue talking about what is going on at home, we are always here. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY, and we are available to listen, to help. You might also consider reaching out to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network at 1-800-656-4673 to seek help and support in the wake of your sexual abuse at home.
You are strong and brave to have reached out. We wish for the best for you. Stay safe.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello, I currently live in an abusive and forceful home. My parents are homophobic/transphobic to the point where if I come out, I fear for my safety. They also emotionally/verbally abuse me constantly and refuse to get me help or speak with a doctor for my severe depression. I can't stand living here and being forced to be in a suffocating religious and phobic household and a part of me still wants to live despite being suicidal. I'm only 15 but I have been making plans to leave my home by next year with a friend of mine. I reside in Florida currently but will be moving up north. Is there any way that a friend (minor), who is already emancipated, can sign off on my documents/ be a guardian for me? I will be leaving but I don't want to be brought back because I'm terrified of what could happen if they see me again. I don't have a phone because they took it since they found out I have friends and are constantly watching me during my school hours online- so I cannot contact anyone who I think could help me out. I have tried speaking with them about it and in turn it just got worse. I would hate to go to court only because I feel as though my case wouldn't be strong enough to emancipate me. I plan to obtain a drivers license and a job sometime by the end of this year to help my journey- is there any way i can successfully live off somewhere else without that risk of being brought home? Or being signed off by a separate emancipated individual?

[ccsmod9]

Thank you for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline. I am so sorry to hear about the situation you are living in as it certainly makes for a very unhappy environment for you. Let me see if I can be of assistance to you. First, please keep in mind that NRS is not an organization than can offer legal information or legal advise to anyone who reaches out to us. That said, we do have a large database of resources that we can look through to help guide you and we can assist in offering knowledge to make your moves more educated and above all safe. If you are able to contact us by calling in (1-800-Runaway) or via chat (www.1800runaway.org) we will can take a look at providing Resources based upon where you are located in Florida.

Being 15, it is unlikely to have a friend (who is a minor but emancipated) take over guardianship for you. Even if you are able to get a driver’s license and a job to save money, the person taking guardianship must be an adult and offer proof of finances, proof of safe place to live, be emotionally mature and will be likely be quite costly. Guardians would also be responsible for your schooling, and any medical situations which may come up. To get guardianship, your parents would likely have to sign off on everything in court. Additionally, being in Florida the legal age to leave home without parents permission is 18 so there is a good chance you would get returned to your home and that is something that worries you. Your parents would have a difficult time giving up your wellbeing without possibly being charged with neglect.

Hopefully this has helped you a bit. Living in a situation where one is afraid to come out and at the same time being forced to follow specific religious beliefs is VERY difficult but we are here to help you through this. As there was a mention of suicide in your email, should you really get to that point, we encourage you to seek immediate help by reaching out to a counselor at the Nat’l Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. I hope that you will reach out to us at the number/website we have available for the National Runaway Safeline so we can get you connected with the right people to help you.

Take good care!!

[Guest]

Hi I’m 16 and I hate living with my parents my mom yells at me for everything and I’m such a good kid and I’ve gone through so much my mom emotionally abuses me and my dad too and I hate living here she messes with my mental health so much it makes me want to kill myself and then she acts like nothing ever happened and I think she’s bipolar idk but everytime I tell her I have anxiety or I’m having flashbacks due to my trauma she just says push through that’s life when she wants me to go to a store with her and if I tell her no she screams at me at me and says to push through when I have horrific trauma and she says that I’m ungrateful when I’m so greatful and she cusses at me she threatens to kick me out when I say no to her or if I say I’m going to my dads even though I don’t want too it sucks im In a really bad position any advice and I want to get that empaction thing

[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 you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You deserve to be getting the support that you need to heal from your trauma.

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, you would have to prove in court that you have an income and can care for yourself financially, and that you are able to live separately from your parents.  It also helps to be in good standing at school.  The court will also factor in the mental and physical welfare of your parents in order to establish your best interest. Usually your legal guardian would have to agree to this in court. Once you are emancipated, you can legally choose where you live, but you might still find that you cannot sign a lease or build credit until you 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.

Be safe,
NRS
1-800-786-2929; 1800runaway.org

[Guest]

I'm 15 years old and turn 16 soon. For the last 4 years and maybe more I've wanted to leave. At first I thought it was just a stunt and it would go away... but things here progressively keep getting worse. For starters my mother does not have a job. I know that's not a crime, but many needs go untaken care of. The money we do get my guardian gambles, she does have a skin condition that prevents her from doing certain things but she has made no effort to do other things. She wont allow me to get a job for some type of income either. She's always putting things off that absolutely need to be done. She's constantly yelling and talking bad about people I love. She's told my to leave on multiple occasions. She tells me I'm going to "fail in life". She's tried to manipulate me by isolating me and telling me she's the only one that cares about me. She's threatened to beat me on many occasions and claimed she would have one of her friends come "teach me a lesson on respect" Many of the things she has told me in the past have deep rooted. She's told me "if I ever kill myself its because of you". As previously stated she's constantly yelling and talking bad about people I love, all day every day. When people wont give her money she calls them drug addicts and when she's mad at me she tells me ill be just like them and ill die before I'm 21, I've never done anything to upset her I don't smoke, vape, cuss, sneak out etc. their are so many other things that have happened and i cant do this anymore. . I really want to leave and know where I want to go (family). I read that you could legally leave home at 16 without being forced back but I believe that was based in the UK, I live in the US. I do not want to become emancipated i just want to get my custody removed from her, as a minor I don't know what say I have in that or what i should do first. Any help?

[ccsmod3]

Thanks for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline. We know that it can take a lot of courage to reach out for support, and we're glad you did. It sounds like there's quite a lot going on at home that has you feeling like you can no longer be there, but you're right in questioning if you'd be required to return home if you leave at 16 living in the US. The short answer is that IS possible you'd be returned home if you left without parental consent. One way to avoid any legal repercussions or being returned home is for you and your mom to agree on where you're going. It sounds like you have family that might be able and willing to take care of you, so that would be a good starting point. Another way to avoid any legal repercussions or being returned home is through emancipation, which you indicated you were not interested in. Unfortunately getting custody removed from a parent is a very complex process, and one that is not easily granted. Typically a parent would have to be considered unfit and/or unable to adequately provide for their children. And even then, Child Protective Services would first consider which measures could be put in place to ensure the children are getting what they need within the home before removing them from the home.

All that said, there's really no one answer that we can give you at the moment. It might be beneficial for you to reach out to us directly by phone (1-800-RUNAWAY) or live chat (www.1800runaway.org), and we can discuss your specific situation in more detail. We may also be able to connect you with some legal resources in your area that can answer some of your questions a little better. We're available 24/7 through both phone and chat, and are always happy to listen, and to help.

Take care,

NRS

[Guest]

Can you stay at another person's house overnight, without parents consent at 16?

[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.

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 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,

NRS

[Guest]

Hi I am 16 and looking for some help. I would like to move back to Colorado where I feel safe and happy. I love my mom but we moved to Mississippi a few months ago. I hate it. Can I move back to Colorado without my mom if I'm living with someone she knows and trusts? I just really need to go home because I hate Mississippi. I don't feel safe there. Can you help me?

[ccsmod8]

Hello there –

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline on our public forum. We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can.

Now we aren't legal experts here and you might have already read on this forum thread about what could happen if you were to leave home before the age of majority. So we won’t get into that since you can find it fairly easily.

Your parent(s) may give you permission to live with another family or relative, but without getting an official document from the court they would still be legally responsible for you. Which means that they can also take away that permission at any given moment and take you back home to live with them once again. So that can be an option for you if you feel like your parent(s) might respond well to you living someplace else or won’t go back on their word when they told you that you could leave home. Maybe coming up with a solid plan about what you’re planning on doing, how everything is going to work, and any miscellaneous things could be helpful in them seeing how much work you have put into this plan and presenting the ideas to both sides (ie. your mother and whomever you are trying to live with).

Hope this was helpful and best of luck to you.

[Guest]

Hi, I'm Zayriah. I live in Memphis TN. I am 15 but I will be 16 in June. Its very hard living with my mom and her husband. My mom doesn't listen to me or care about what I need and my stepdad always has something negative to say and he always makes me sad and angry and he controls everything but his own kids. When I turn 16 my dad wants me to move to TX and I want to go. I do have history of being a runaway, But this time I want to tell her how I feel (even though it isn't gonna work) so I want have to go through all of the social worker and police officers and nosey family members. I just want to be happy and that is what I want to be happy. I really just want a way out. Tell me what should I do?

[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. You deserve to be happy and to have your feelings and experiences acknowledged and validated. It could be a good idea to work with a local family counselor or have a conversation mediated by a school counselor/social worker, trusted friend, or family member to help clear the air. If you'd like, you can also call us directly and we can conduct a conference call with your family so you have a safe environment where you can express yourself.

It's great to hear that your dad is a support in your life. It may be beneficial to speak with your dad directly about your desire to live with him once you turn 16. 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/.

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

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

[Guest]

hello i’m sixteen years old and i live in virginia. i live with my mom and my step dad, i want to leave and be on my own. my mom has put her hands on me and my sister in the past and i don’t feel safe living here. i’m unhappy and i can’t stay with my dad because he has problems with the law and is still trying to get through a case right now. i have been trying to plan to run away but i don’t want to be forced back home with her, i just would rather be on my own or go live with my boyfriend or a friend.

[ccsmod13]

Thank you for contacting NRS. It sounds like you are in a very difficult situation. We’re glad you reached out to us. No one deserves to be treated that way. It is your parent’s responsibility to provide a safe and supportive environment for you. If you feel you are in danger, you can always call 911.

A potential resource is the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at www.childhelp.org or 1-800-4-A-CHILD (422-4453). Childhelp is a 24-hour hotline with volunteers who can talk to you about your situation and provide resources that may be helpful to you.

You could also consider contacting your local Division of Child Protective Services. The Virginia Department of Social Services operates a statewide Child Protective Services (CPS) Hotline 24/7 at 1-800-552-7096 to receive reports of child abuse and neglect and refer them to the appropriate local department of social services. The CPS Hotline is staffed by trained Protective Service Hotline Specialists. If you are uncomfortable making the call, you can call us and one of our volunteers can make the call with or for you.

At NRS our main goal is to see that you are safe and off the street. If you leave home have you considered where you would go and how you would support yourself? We’re not legal experts, but we can provide some basic information that may be helpful to you. The age of majority (the age at which you can legally leave home) in Virginia is 18. Running away is not illegal. If you run away, your parents can file a runaway report. If you are picked up by the police they will likely take you back home. You should know that if you are staying with your boyfriend or a friend and you are picked up there, they could be charged with harboring a runaway.

The way the police handle runaway and harboring cases varies from place to place. If you call the non-emergency number of your local police department they may be able to tell you how they handle runaway and harboring cases. If you are uncomfortable making the call, you can call us and one of our volunteers can make the call with or for you.

You can also always call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We have volunteers available 24/7 to talk and to help you find resources that may be helpful to you.

Thank you again for contacting NRS. We wish you the best!

[Guest]

Hi, I’m 16 years old I live in ***** and I have a very poor relationship with my family. I’ve been mentally abused by my mother and been controlled by her my whole life. She doesn’t pay for my clothing or shoes or basic needs along those lines. I have a job and a place to go with my boyfriend of very soon to be a year. My mom for a long time did not allow me to get a job and constantly punished/punishes me for things like forgetting to charge my phone at night and treats me very poorly especially compared to my siblings. The house and environment is very messy and cluttered and gross. There isn’t enough room in the house for the amount of people living there. I mentally can not take living there and have tried living with my dad and grandparents but my mother always finds a way to ruin the living situation to get me back Into her house. If I leave and live with my boyfriend if he doesn’t help me take my stuff or move it or anything like that can the police get me or him in trouble and can they force me back into my moms house?

[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 have a poor relationship with your family and know that that must be tough. That said, moving out to live with a boyfriend is a big step, and it can definitely come with some consequences based on your age. The concern wouldn't be with him helping you move out or taking your stuff, it would more so be with you living somewhere that your parents don't agree to. Without their consent, your boyfriend (or whomever you're living with) could be at risk of facing legal consequences based off of harboring a runaway. If your mom files a runaway report or a missing persons report and anyone is aware of your location, you could be returned home. It also sounds like your boyfriend might be an adult, which brings into question other laws around you two dating. If that is the case, he likely would be at risk of not only getting into trouble due to harboring a runaway, but also due to statutory rape. If he's a minor, this won't apply.

If you'd like to talk in more detail about what's going on or explore your options, please feel free to give us a call here at NRS. You can reach us directly by phone by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY, or by popping into a live chat through our website at www.1800runaway.org. We're available 24/7 and are always happy to listen, and to help.

Take care.

NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 15 I will turn 16 in a couple of months, 5 years ago I started to live with my mom, little brother and stepdad in a apartment all together we use to live in my grandparents house without my stepdad we never had any problem between us until now my guardians relationship became toxic, my brother was diagnosed with anxiety and has social interaction problem in the other hand I was diagnosed with depression in just 5 years my life became miserable my mom takes her stress and anger on me all the time turning onto physical fights , to add my stepdad treats me way differently from my brother he talks about me as a bad person and fights with my mom every single day sometimes things get out of control besides that I been doing poorly on my education I have no motivation my grades have been going down, I use to be one of the best but now I cannot I’m too stressed I told my grandparents but they just can’t take care of me since they live on another country, I just wish to get out here and be a teen who can focus on studying like I’m supposed too my mom recently told me she was going to start making me work which I have no problem with because since 13 I started to work but she told me I need to pay rent and the electricity bills which I find unbelievable because she treats me like garbage and cannot even notice I’m not happy or well, besides I will like to know too if I do move out can i take my brother with me I wouldn’t like him to live with them since they did him so much trauma.

[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 at home with your mom and brother. 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 which it sounds like is the case. You absolutely do not deserve to be harmed. 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

[Guest]

hey i have 16 turning 17 in August and i am currently living with my family and i hate it. My parents aren’t american and think they can control my life all they want just because i am THIER daughter. I am never allowed out or to have any sort of friends. I haven’t been out with my friends in over 5 months and whenever i try to go out, they just start saying “i’m calling the cops” “you’re worthless” and mannnnyyyy hurtful stuff. All my life, my family has been fighting. Ever waking moment they fight. That has affected me soo much because they blame it on me. AND THEY MAKE SURE I KNOW. they always say “we are fighting because of you.” “you’re the reason why there is problems in the house.” But all i do is isolate myself from them because they hate me so much. I get scared to get up and eat because they talk to much about me. And if i say something about it, i am on drugs and i need help according to them. Never in my life have i ever touched any other drug than weed and it became my only escape from everything. But then, i had a boyfriend I loved so much he was the only reason i was happy. But because they are “my parents” they can tell me what i can and can’t do with my body. i told my mom if u don’t want me in this house then why won’t you let me leave? SHE RESPONDED WITH “yes i want you out of my but I want you in jail rather than out. And i have contacted my school for help but they just told me to deal with it for 2 more years. but it’s not fair at all i wanna be able to live my life and i want to have a support system at home. I can’t do much more without them threatening the cops or going to my school and telling them lies. Please if there is something i can do, let me know because i have thought of killing my self way to many times and i want a better life for me.

[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. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now. You don't deserve to be treated that way. 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]

hi im **** and i want to leave home at 16 and i live in texas and my parents are stupid my dad puts a lot restrictions on me and i dont feel like i have an freedom i have to ask to talk to someone and i have to ask to spend money when i make my own money and i have a job and i cant even walk out the front door cuz he says i have to ask to go out the front door and i have to ask to even go do my chores and my dad akwayd wants to fist fight me and it gets annoying and me and hom argue so much and my mom she takes everything out of proportion and she doesnt believe anything i say yes ive done stupid stuff but we get it fixed and they brig it back up and punish me again i think its stupid and they have already kicked me out of the house four times already and i should of left then but i didnt

[ccsmod3]

Hey there and thanks for reaching out to NRS. We know that it can take a lot of courage to reach out for support, and we're glad you took that step. It sounds like things at home have been challenging for you, and we're sorry to hear that. It can definitely be frustrating to feel so restricted. Based on what you've said above, it seems like there may be some communication issues going on between you and your parents. It might be helpful to try and address those issues with the support of a therapist or counselor who can help by mediating important conversations. That will also give you the opportunity to work through how some of the ways that those interactions are affecting you.

If you'd like to talk in more detail about what's going on at home or have us look up some local counseling services in your area, please feel free to give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us live at www.1800runaway.org. We're available 24/7 and are always happy to listen, and to help.

NRS

[Guest]

Hey I’m 17 and lately things been hard for me. Starting of 2020 my uncle moved in I thought it was an good idea turns out it wasn’t. Since September 1st 2020 I’ve been having random people come in & out and you wonder why that’s because my “uncle” is an drug dealer. It was all cool until he started withdrawing coz he didn’t have any type of drugs in his system,so he blacked out said he was missing money or his drugs he kept doing that until he got something in return either it was an argument or money..to feed his addiction. My cousins Nicole & Andrea overdoses on fenty in December of 2020 and since then all I’ve been around was drugs & alcohol ******** was exhausting its now 2021 Christmas Day/eve my mom was all messed up on crack & alcohol soon that week I found all my moms ******** and broke a lot of pipes.. I soon escaped because she kicked me out Jan 2nd I was with my friend. My lil brother who’s 12 is now with my mom again she’s not in the best mind set... shes dating online and bringing guys around all for her own “happiness” & obv for $$. I don’t wanna be apart of my moms life she neglected me and left me said she doesn’t love me or care so I’m fighting for my safety and I just want my lil brother with me..

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,

Thank you so much for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. Wow you are so brave for having to endure all of that trauma, that all seems so awful.

Being around drugs and drug dealers is not a healthy environment for anyone having to live in. You could consider reporting the drug use to the police and they would be able to investigate the situation. Also because you are being neglected you can report this to CPS by calling Child Help at 1800-422-4453.

This is so hard for anyone to have to deal with, unfortunately drugs not only affect the addict but they affect anyone who is around the addict. That is why sometimes addiction is called a family disease. We hope that you have some support during all of this. One option to consider would be to talk to a school counselor about what has been going on at home. Also they have meetings for families of loved ones who have addiction issues. You can find meetings in your area or online by calling Alanon-Alateen at: 1888-425-2666. Another good resource that may be helpful to you is called SAMHSA (substance abuse and mental health association). They can be reached at 1800-662-4357.

We hope that this information will be helpful to you. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options, please give us a call. We are available 24/7 to listen and to provide support. We wish you the best of luck!

NRS

[Guest]

Hi im 16 and i work and im learning how to drive and my parents are very unfair and hurtful and there toxic and i have a place to stay if i leave, and soon when i get enough money i can buy an apartment and i was wondering what do i need to do to show i am able to leave my parents house at 16 please help me i cant ne having this no more this is emotional abuse

[ccsmod15]

Hello there,
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, you would have to prove in court that you have an income and can care for yourself financially, and that you are able to live separately from your parents. It also helps to be in good standing at school. The court will also factor in the mental and physical welfare of your parents in order to establish your best interest. Usually your legal guardian would have to agree to this in court. Once you are emancipated, you can legally choose where you live, but you might still find that you cannot sign a lease or build credit until you 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.
You mentioned experiencing emotional abuse which may be reportable against your family. Please keep in mind you by no means deserve any type of abuse, emotional or otherwise. Unfortunately, emotional abuse is often harder to provide evidence for compared to physical abuse which is often what CPS relies on when conducting an abuse investigation. That said, we can’t be 100% sure what the outcome will be if your local CPS decides to open a case based on what you share. Sometimes CPS decides to remove minors from the home and other times they offer services such as family counseling or mediation instead. The only way to know the outcome might be to reach out to them directly and if you’re ready to do that we are here to help you through that process. Reaching out to Child Help USA at 1-800-422-4453 or www.childhelp.org may help to get a better understanding of what may happen before and after a report is made.
Unfortunately we can only respond to forums twice. You can best reach us by phone at 800-RUNAWAY or via our live chat at www.1800runaway.org.
We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.
NRS

[Guest]

Hello. I am currently 16 years old and will be turning 17 in August. My grandparents are my legal guardians. I feel emotional abused when I am around my family. There is a lot of fighting happening and I have seen my family have physical altercations with each other. I no longer feel safe and plan on leaving next month with my boyfriend who is 18 years old. I would want to know if there is any legal trouble we can get into and if it is a good idea to leave next month.

[ccsmod9]

Thank you for contacting NRS,
We appreciate you reaching out to us here at NRS. We are sorry to hear that you have been having family issues. More importantly that your family is being physical and creating issues for your well being. As far as leaving with your boyfriend some things that might be important to consider are the child runaway laws in your state. Though we are not legal experts from h=what we understand about runaway laws in general is that if you were to leave home it is not a crime however your parents have the right to file a runaway report and the police would then be on the lookout for you. Some other things you would need to know is that while its not a crime to runaway sometimes harboring a runaway can be. Your boyfriend should he choose to willfully hide you can be charged with harboring a runaway if you are found.It might be a good idea to discuss this with each other and see where you land on the issue.

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