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

hi um- I'm not being treated right at home I'm 16 and suffering from verbile and emotional abuse, I don't know how to get out of it it's gotta bad and I have 3 little siblings, and they're the reason I haven't run away because I don't want to leave them to get treated how I do. I am planning to get ematiobpation but I'm aware it will take a while and I just want to know if I will get to leave before 18, to be honest with you..I'm heavily thinking about getting rationed but I think I want to go through with it but I need a job b I don't want one yet because I want to know I can handle school work.

[ccsmod3]

Hi there, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like things have been stressful at home for a while now. It doesn’t seem right that your parents didn’t allow you to go outside at all during the summer and now it has caused you to have bad reactions to the sun. It also sounds like your parents are controlling with not letting you have your permit or get a job because they fear you will run away. With school starting again, an option is to talk to a trusted adult at school and see if they can help in any way or help you with talking to your parents. It seems like you have a tentative plan to get pregnant by your boyfriend so your parents will kick you out, but it is important to recognize that being pregnant and then having a child is a lifelong commitment which can be overwhelming especially when you are 16. We could help you discuss other options or talk about this further if you are interested. If so, please call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

I am 16 I want to move out I don’t have my permit yet because my parents think I will run away so they don’t let me have a job or license. I can’t go out and when I try too they get made and say I go out to much since I have school. I live in an Asian house hold and they won’t let me live till I’m 18 I want to leave once I’m 17. Everyday my father is just mad about something and makes everyone mad at each other he breaks things and tells me and my brother and mother to clean up. He is the Alfa of the family. I can’t never have fun nor do the things I want. This whole summer break I’ve been locked up and haven’t seen sunlight due to my parents and this is 2022 so vivid has died down but I’ve been stuck inside the house for 3 months I only saw sunlight when it was to take out the trash. I remember when I finally got out side for a family reunion I couldn’t stand the outside due to me staying inside so much my body wasn’t used to it to the point I have painting problems and very bad reactions to the sun now. I can’t never be a teen and the only thing I can think of is be pregnant so my parents can kick me out officially. Me and my bf have been together for about 9 months he is going to rent a place out but I can’t leave yet… sadly he is 17 almost a senior and off to college while I’m a sophomore student in HS. The only way out of my house is if I get pregnant. And my bf pays the dowery can I leave at 17 with my boyfriend.

[ccsmod3]

Hi there, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you are wanting to move out with your older sibling. The best way or legal way to go about moving out is to have your parents’ permission otherwise yes they can force you to come home. We can offer more support when we know more about the situation if it could be helpful to discuss this further. If so, please call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

can i move out at 16 if i have a sibling thats 18 moving out with me, and if i do can my parents force me to come home.

[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

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]

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

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..........

[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.

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.

[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

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.

[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

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