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

[Guest]

Hey I am 16 getting ready to be 17 in February and my mom mentally abuse's me and I want to go live with my boyfriend in Kentucky how cod I do that

[ccsmod15]

We want to let you know that we are proud of you for reaching out for help. You should not have to feel like your mental health is being threatened in the home. You deserve to feel at peace and supported in your home.
There are some questions we’d like you consider first before running away.
• What else can I do to improve my home situation before I leave?
• What would make me stay at home?
• How will I survive?
• Is running away safe?
• Who can I count on to help me?
• Am I being realistic?
• Have I given this enough thought?
• What are my other options?
• If I end up in trouble, who will I call?
• When I return home, what will happen?

Does anyone else know about the mental abuse you have been experiencing (friend, teacher, relative, counselor or someone you trust)? Sometimes it may feel less scary knowing that we have other person to talk to about the abuse and how we are feeling. Have you considered talking to Child Protective Services (CPS)? If you would like to make a report or want information about abuse and your safety, then they can assist with that. CPS can assist with identifying, treating, and reducing child abuse and or neglect. They want to make sure efforts are made to protect and maintain your safety at home. You can make a report with CPS of any abuse and/or neglect if you would like. CPS will take the information and determine what their next step will be. You can ask them also what they will do next. The more information you can provide to CPS will help to build a case. Also anyone that knows about the abuse can make a report on your behalf. You can be made anonymous call to them if you would just like more information as to how they might handle the situation, so that your confidentiality is maintained. You can contact Child Help USA at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (422-4453) or you can view their website: http://www.childhelp.org/ for more information. But if you feel like you’re in immediate danger, then you should call 911.

Justice for the Children is another service that is outside of the police and CPS. They are a national child advocacy organization to help you if there might be inadequate and/or failure to protect you from abuse or neglect. You can reach them at 1-800-733-0059 or you can view their website at: http://www.justiceforchildren.org .

We are a 24/7 non-judging, anonymous and confidential crisis line. We are here to help process through situation, discuss option in more detail, provide local resources/referrals and assist in making conference calls to other services or agencies. We do want to let you know that if we get identifying information (age, city, state, address, phone number and name (s) of alleged abuser (s)), then we would be mandated to report abuse. Also we want to you know who are other mandated reporters, which means the following people/agencies by law would have to report any or alleged abuse/neglect: Social Services, teachers, counselors, doctors. However, we do not determine what is or is not abuse though. We want you to feel comfortable in calling us. Our number is 1-800RUNAWAY (786-2929). You are welcome to call at any time you are ready.  We look forward in hear from you and wish you the best. Please be safe in the mean time!

[Guest]

hi, im 15, im gonna b 16 in january, my dad sometimes hits me, less often now since i told the state, but he still does, he also hits my little sis and twin brother and i cant do anything abt it, my parents r also emotionally abusive to me as well, i have a safe place 2 go, and i need 2 get outta there or else i might actually kms, i almost have cuz of them b4, is there any way i can get out of there, i dont have a phone cuz my parents dont want me documenting when my dad hits me, and they allow my little sister 2 hurt me a lot, is there any way for me 2 get out of my house?

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for contacting NRS – we understand that situations like this can be difficult to navigate. We are so sorry to hear about the physical and emotional abuse that you’re experiencing.

We understand that you have reported the abuse that you are experiencing to the state. While we wish this helped your situation more, there are a few other options you might want to consider. If you are in school and feel comfortable doing so, you might consider talking to a teacher or guidance counselor about what’s happening at home. One thing you should consider is that teachers and guidance counselors are legally mandated reporters so if you tell them about abuse, they are required to do something about it (typically getting Child Protective Services involved for an investigation. You might also consider talking to them about some of the other things you’re struggling with such as considering hurting yourself or running away.

You mentioned that you are considering running away. While we are not legal experts, here is some information that might help. In most states, it is illegal for a youth (person under 18 years old) to run away from home without parent/guardian permission. Any parent who realizes that their child is missing is urged to call the police and report their child as a runaway. Failure to report a runaway could result in charges of neglect in some states.

Anyone who takes in a runaway youth without permission is also at risk for harboring a runaway. This means that anyone who you stay with could get in trouble for letting a runaway youth stay with them. We’re sorry that this system is extremely restrictive.

If you ever feel in immediate danger, either from abuse or self-harm, we encourage you to call the police for immediate assistance – your safety is our top priority.

NRS is here to help 24/7. Call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or online at 1800runaway.org. Best of luck.

[Guest]

i don't know a hole lot about this websitebut it looks good to me so my girl is 15 and her parents keep her locked up in her house im really worried about and i can only text her i really worried Cuz i was also on a call with her and her dad was trying to do sexual stuff to her i really want her to get out of that house and move in with me and my family but her parent wouldn't let her if she still moves out when she is 16 will my family get in trouble for keeping her i really need advice please and thank you

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out to us; we are glad that you did. It sounds like you are really worried about your girlfriend based on her parents locking her up and hearing her dad want to do sexual stuff to her.
It's understandable to want to have her come live with your family to be safe, but her parents have custody of her till at least 18 and can have police bring her back. What you can do is give her our contact info so she can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or chat us through this website which is www.1800runaway.org so we can support her and listen and help.
We work best when we can have a conversation with the people most involved. We truly hope to hear from her soon.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I'm 16 going on 17 and I live in a small Oklahoma town but that's beside the point. So I am usually neglected and and am the recipient of emotional abuse but the final straw is that there is a dead tree in the back yard and once it falls it will land on my room. My family knows that it will hit my room and where I sleep but haven't taken it down. I feel so unsafe at this point that I'm sleeping in a corner on the floor by my door . I feel so unsafe here that I want to leave as soon as possible.

[ccsmod15]

Hello! Thank you for reaching out to the NRS!



We're sorry to hear about your struggles at home. We hear you, you should not be treated that way at home by your family and you deserve to be somewhere that makes you feel wanted and safe.



If you feel like you are in imminent danger, you should call 911 to report your situation. Regarding the dead tree, perhaps one option that you can pursue is seeing if your city or county has a tree trimming program. If such a department exists, their services are likely free and you can give them a call to get more information. You also mentioned that you are neglected and are on the receiving end of emotional abuse -- we hear you and this is also a serious issue. If you want to pursue filing a child abuse report or just want to learn more about the process, we can help you with that at the NRS if you call 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or chat with us at 1800runaway.org. Finally, if you feel as though are going through difficult emotions alone or just feel overwhelmed mentally, a great resource is NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They have great support groups and chat lines there with people going through similar issues at https://www.nami.org.



We wish you all the best and hope you will find these resources helpful. If you have more questions or just want to talk about your situation more with one of our representatives, once again, feel free to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or chat with us at 1800runaway.org.

[Guest]

i’m 16 and my mother tells me that i’m crazy and that she’s going to take me to a shrink so they can tell me im crazy but im not crazy, I’ve just been talked down on my whole life and they treat me like nothing. I have 3 brothers and they start fights with me all the time (all in their early to late 20’s) and i get blamed for it i live in Tn but my mother will force me to go to alabama to stay with my dad at work if they fight me, but i just seriously want to get out of their house because it’s beating me down to stay their and i’m afraid if i don’t get out now i won’t ever get it. My mother is manipulative and lies to everybody to make me the bad guy so i’m all out of options i’ve reached out to family but none of them believe me because my mom tells them i’m a liar and i’m crazy.

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out to NRS. We’re really sorry to hear that you’re having such a tough time at home. Nobody deserves to be talked down to and made to feel unwelcome. While we are not legal experts, we can share a few things with you. You mentioned that you live in Tennessee and would potentially be in Alabama with your dad. In Tennessee, the age of majority (no longer considered a minor) is 18, and in Alabama it is 19, so unfortunately you would still be considered a minor. If you were to decide to run away from home (without consent from your parents), your parents could file a runaway report to have the police try to locate you.

We know this might not be what you are looking to hear, but we are still here to help. It sounds like your mother may be verbally abusing you. One option you could consider is filing a report of the abuse. We cannot advise you on what decision you should make, but we can walk you through possible options. If you are interested in discussing this process and possible outcomes, you can always call 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or visit www.1800Runaway.org (live chat). NRS is able to coordinate conference calls directly with the child protective services agency in your county/state if you would like to report or we can file the report separately if you provide us the information. One thing to note is that unfortunately emotional abuse is often harder to provide evidence for and we cannot guarantee what your local Child Protective Services outcome may be. Another resource that you could consider is www.childhelp.org, which also has a call and text line for individuals who are going through difficult situations like your own. We hope everything works out for you and again, NRS is always available to chat or talk (via phone or link above).

Best of luck,
NRS

[Guest]

I just turned 16 a couple days ago and my family is trying to move this week to Florida. I really don't want to go because 1 I hate being home and I never feel safe at home and 2 my dad still mentally abuses me. He used to abuse me in the past and I had CPS called but I was so scared that my dad would hit me no matter what so I never said anything. Last time I had CPS called on him I spoke up but my sister didn't cause she believes they can't do anything for us as my dad and stepmom said. My dad cares about his wife more than us and it really hurts and just the environment isn't good for me. I have called CPS on him yesterday but idk what's gonna happen. I want to live with my friend and her mom is okay with it but I just need to get away from him first so what will I need to prove I'm not lying?

[ccsmod7]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline. It takes a lot of courage to reach out and share what has been going on. It sounds like home may be a stressful environment for you and has been taking a toll on your mental health and well-being. You do not deserve to experience abuse of any kind – especially by those who are supposed to take care of you.

You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. The easiest way to leave home is with your parent or guardian’s 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 dad and stepmom. 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.

Please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. We are available 24/7, 365 days a year. We can be reached via phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or through online chat at www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello so I am currently 14 but I am saving up so that once I turn 16 I can move out. I am currently living in a household where my father is an alcoholic and my mother is never home. I would not be able to get my parents permission. I am not allowed to see my girlfriend and I am not allowed to even leave my house and at least once a week my phone gets taken away and my father blocks everyone that I talk to. I can’t keep living like this with my family so I might even have to see if I could get out even sooner. I am currently on track to go to early college so I will have my high school degree and associates by the time that I turn 18 but I won’t be able to stay with them until then. I have plans with a few of my other friends that also want to move out at 16 for living conditions but I wouldn’t want to get them in trouble if my parents file a runaway report I am not sure how I should approach this. I know that if my parents do try and force me back I could report them to child services because they currently do violate a few laws and are causing me a unsafe situation for my living area but if it doesn’t actually work out then I don’t even want to think about what would happen. Is it possible for me to move out before I turn 16? And do you have any advice on how I should approach my situation?

[ccsmod1]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us at National Runaway Safeline and trusting us to answer these questions for you. We recognize that it takes a great deal of courage to seek help and it takes strength to identify the need for change. We are sorry to hear about the struggles you are experiencing at home. You don't deserve to feel barricaded inside and without communication with others. It is certainly an accomplishment that you are on track to attend college earlier than normal! Congratulations. It sounds like you will need a stable environment to live in for this to remain attainable, but you are looking to go somewhere other than where you are currently at.

First and foremost, regarding your question on if it is possible to move out at 16, typically the law recognizes 18 as a legal adult. That will be something to consider in the process of trying to leave, especially right now at age 14. It sounds like you made plans with friends for when you all turn 16, which is great that you have people in your circle that are there for you and may even understand what you are going through. However, it may be very difficult to find somebody to rent to a 16 year old / anyone under the age of 18. We understand that may not be the answer you are looking for, and please know that CPS or the police are always an option and we empower you to prioritize those points of contact if you ever find yourself in immediate danger. I think in the meantime, some important things to consider may be finding ways to make and save money. With the consideration that you are 14, it may be hard or not possible to find a job at the moment. However, by 16, you should be able to find places that will hire you for work. This would give you the opportunity to save up money that by the time you are 18, you will be able to comfortably support yourself.

It sounds like you are thriving academically and that you have great friends. Some other options that may be helpful looking into would be to talk to a school counselor about your experiences at home, or if you are not already in therapy services and may be interested in them, that could be something to look into that might work as an emotional outlet to be able to talk to somebody and work through a solid plan that will be useful and effective for you and your situation.

If you would like to talk further and more in-depth about what's going on, we are glad to chat with you through our online chat portal, which you can find directly on our website in the top, right-hand corner. You may also contact us via telephone at 1-800-RUNAWAY. Please note that our services are confidential and we operate on a 24-hour basis. Thank you again for confiding in us about your situation and we look forward to the opportunity to talk with you further.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

hey there i want to move in with my birth mom but i am stuck with my aunt and uncle who hit me with stuff and i am being told i cant move with my mom because she isn't on my birth certificate and i want to leave but i am only 15 and i have no money to go to court what do i do? please help

[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 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

[Guest]

I have a friend who is 16 about to turn 17. She is in a extremely abusive situation and i got her out and she’s been living with me for 6 months. Her mom just now took her back. If she runs away again and she gets caught what will happen. She has a job, her permit, and even pays rent. More mature than 99% of the people I know. We’re located in va. We’ve been through court and everything her dad got custody but he just got a charge so they came and got her

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thanks for reaching out; we are glad that you did. It sounds like your friend is in a difficult situation. Court intervened, it sounds like, but circumstances changed again.
In one paragraph, in a public forum, it is hard for us to be of assistance. Perhaps working with the original lawyer is an option. Your state's CPS may be an option. Until your friend is 18 in VA, unless CPS or a court says otherwise, mom has custody rights since that's where the youth was placed.
We do work best with the people involved, so we hope your friend will chat us through this website, or call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) so that we can support her and talk over the situation with her.
We truly hope to hear from her soon.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

so im 16 years old and ill be 17 in october this year and i ran away from home because im getting verbably abused and my boyfriend is willing to take me in and hes 18 years old would he get in trouble for it or get arrested even though i want to live with him because i dont want to go back home i refuse to go back but i went back because i was scared he was going to get arrested if i didnt leave his home. what can do and can i stay with him if i want to

[ccsmod16]

Hi there, we are so sorry to hear you’re going through such a challenging situation. Nobody deserves to be treated that way. Unfortunately, he could get in trouble even though you want to live with him. We know this is not the news you are looking to hear. In most states, the age of majority (where you are no longer a minor) is 18. If you were to leave home again, your parents could file a runaway report. This essentially tells the police that you have run away and they will try to locate you to bring you home. If you were with your boyfriend, he could potentially get in trouble for housing someone who has run away. One option you could consider is filing an abuse report, which we are able to assist with at NRS. This can be a lengthy process, though, and unfortunately, verbal abuse can be harder to prove, so you could still end up staying in your home.

You still have some options (potentially even local ones for alternative housing) and here at NRS, we are happy to discuss them with you. We have a hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) to talk through options or you can chat with us on our website (https://www.1800runaway.org/). Both are available 24/7. In the meantime, we do want to offer up some other resources. In addition to our own line, some other organizations like crisistextline.org have a chatline and are used to talking with people going through very similar situations to your own. Also, if you are ever feeling unsafe at home, another organization (https://www.nationalsafeplace.org/) is available to assist with that as well potentially. Lastly, sometimes it can be helpful to discuss what you are going through with a friend or teacher. We hope everything works out for you, and do not hesitate to reach out!

Best of luck,

NRS

[Guest]

I live in Tennessee and I am unaware of my laws on leaving home as a minor. I actually very recently moved from my abusive mothers house, and have been living with my brother. I attend school as I am supposed to, I don’t do any substances, I make good grades, and graduate next year. I turned 17 recently, however I fear that when this new school year starts my mom is going to make me come home. However I left without asking, but she has not made the effort of bringing me back. I really don’t want to go back, I just can’t, I had the weight of the world on my shoulders living there. This abuse staRted close to 7 years ago. I don’t want anyone getting in trouble, should I just move back? I don’t know what to do.

[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 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 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 im 16, 17 in may. i want to leave home. I do work 2 jobs but i don’t think it would be enough to support my self. I was wondering if i’m able to leave home with out consent like even to go stay with friends. If i was to say ‘can i go to my friends’ and they say no so i really need to abide by that or can i just go. Like i mean just to go hangout for a few hours, i feel i’m able to do go do something for a little bit during the day without consequences being put in place.

[ccsmod10]

We're glad you're looking out for yourself and thinking things through.

The specifics can depend on where you live. Each state and each county can have different rules and regulations around what you're talking about. In most cases, if you leave home without your parents/guardians' consent, they can technically report that you have run away or are missing. If they did so, law enforcement could investigate where you were and try to return you home.

Different places enforce that differently; in some cases, they won't force you to return home if you don't feel safe. In other places they will, no matter what.

If you are worried about potential consequences, you can contact the non-emergency number for your local police department and ask them how they handle run away situations. We are also here to help and provide more guidance as best we can. Feel free to live chat us at 1800runaway.org or call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

[Guest]

Hi, I turned 16 a while back, I live in Gauteng... I have a boyfriend that is 6 years older than me... My step dad treat me badly, he give me all the work to do, always trying to make my live hard,,, I want to go Visit my boyfriend he lives 5 hours away... I actually want to live with him.... But my Mom and step dad will Go crazy if they found out i have a boyfriend that is 6 years older than me..... my biloical dad is fine with my boyfriend... i live with my mom and step dad... i hate it here where i live... my parents they always keep me in this house most off the time.. they have really strict rules.. i can't live my life here... they make me feel small, weak, stupid..... but i,m afraid they would do something to my boyfriend if i went to him without consent... My step dad told me before if I don't follow his rules, I should leave.... I don't know what to do would someone please help me..........

[ccsmod1]

Hello,

We appreciate you reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS) and sharing this information with us. We recognize the courage and strength it takes to reach out for help and we are deeply sorry that you are going through this. Please know that you are strong and smart and you are worthy of feeling proud of the person you are and we are sorry to hear that your family has made you feel otherwise. We want you to receive the best support you can at this time and because of this, we regret to inform you that National Runaway Safeline is solely based in the United States and we unfortunately do not have the resources to further assist individuals outside of the country. With that being said, we found an organization called Childline Gauteng that is designed to provide support for your specific location. You may reach them by dialing the number 116, or they also have a chat option on their website to directly speak with their support team. You can find their website at https://childlinegauteng.co.za/

We hope that this was able to help and we are wishing you the absolute best ahead. Please remember your well-being and mental health deserve to remain your number one priority.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

hi i’m 16. and i have been emotionally abused in my house for months and i want to know how i can make it possible to leave. i have another place to live and i would still be going to school and be getting a job. but i can seriously not take the pressure of going through this anymore. i need a way out of here. I want to know any input you have on this and what i can do to make myself feel happier.

[ccsmod1]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We recognize the stress you must feel under at this time and we are sorry that you are going through this. Please know that we are not legal experts, however, our general knowledge is that legally, you are under the care of your parent/legal guardian until age 18. We understand that you are looking for an alternative solution at this time, and we are happy to welcome you to reach out to us through our online chat option, found on our website at www.1800runaway.org or by phone call at 1-800-RUNAWAY. With more direct support, we would be able to have further conversation with you about the situation and/or brainstorm through ideas or resources that may be helpful for you at this time. Your well-being is important and you deserve to be happy and feel uplifted.

We wish you strong health, safety, and peace and we look forward to the opportunity to talk further with you.

Sincerely,
NRS