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

[Guest]

I am curently 16 years old an i want to leave home without my dad's consent he is always fussing over stupid things he says we never do nothing around the house I go to school come home work on the weekends he says no about leaving and going some where else I'm just getting so over whelmed about it all while I'm at school he sleeps in when we get home and when we get home from school he watches tv in his room while we clean of gotten tired of Him saying I don't ever do anything so I quit doing around the house I have a pitbull to take care of and while my cousin Brittany works 2jobs I take care of her dog next door where me and her live while the rest of my family stays next door we live on halph an acre of land and both of our traillers are conected to each other we bring in 3,600 fillers every month me my dad my brother and my mom get a 700 doller check we all have disability checks I get one for my feet disorder I had a bone that was to large in my foot and I went flat footed and my cousin brings in 400 off one of her jobs idk about the new one she just got but he takes all my money i dont get nun of it for myself neither my cousin and she is 26 years old and my dad gets her money to that she works really hard for he pays all the billes around here with the money and im pretty sure that it dont take 3600 dollers for billes and gas money here he has heavy duty metal in the yard we move it and about a week later we are having to move it again bec it is in the way of something I'm just tired of it all mentally stressed out over it but I'm 16 and just ready to leave and go on with my life in alabama can I legally leave without the permission of parent if basically being held against my will I ain got the money for a lawyer and I just want to leave and go hang with my uncle but that was a no to

[ccsmod6]

Thank you for reaching out and sharing all of that with us. It sounds like issues with your dad have been overwhelming so it is understandable you feel stressed. We are not legal experts but from what we know if you leave home without permission your dad could file a runaway report. Running away is not illegal, but if police find you they could bring you back. You could try talking to your dad, possibly with the help of another family member, about why you want to leave. We can also help you have that conversation by doing a conference call between you and your dad where we can advocate for your needs. If you want to talk more about your situation or explore other options please call or chat us 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929 or www.1800runaway.org.

[Guest]

I have a friend that I have known for almost a year now and I want to leave my house and live with them how do I do it. I'm 16 and they're 24

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by 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'm 14 and I'm planning on moving out in 2 years.I hate living with my family they're annoying as hell.I hate living with them .Everytime I talk to my Mum about leaving at the age of 16 .She says that is a stupid idea and that even if I was able to move out at 16 she would not give me permission to leave.So I just wanted to know if there was some way of leaving my house at 16 without my parents permission?

[ccsmod9]

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. You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. The easiest way to leave home is with your mom’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 mom. 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]

hello i am 16 years old and i live in glendale arizona, i live with my single mom and i have an older brother who just moved to college, my mom is an alcoholic but i love her, ive never had to deal with my mom by myself, my brother has always been there to encourage me not to give up on her. but a few months ago she drank really bad and she put her hands on me, so i called my grandma and my grandma came to pick me up and i stayed with her for a week, whenever she drinks really bad and calls me things and hurts me the next morning it’s always “sorry”, this has been going on for almost 8 years now and i’m drained, i consider myself a happy outgoing person but my very close friends can tell my spirit is being crushed by the one person i love most, i don’t wanna move in with my grandma and leave my mom because then she says something suicidal. i love my grandma and my mom and juggling all of this for 8 years is getting in the way of me in school and focusing on me and i’m in a position where i can’t wait until i’m 18 to move out, i need something to happen asap because i can’t continue doing this, so imma just keep on praying but i just really needed to let that out.

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thank you for your message. It sounds like you’re in a pretty complicated situation with your mom. It’s understandable that you would feel overwhelmed and like your spirit is being crushed. It takes an incredible amount of courage and compassion to continue living with your mom; you must be a very strong and resilient young person. In the meantime, we encourage you to take care of yourself as much as possible. If you’re not already, it could be a great idea to speak with a therapist; while this may not change the situation, it can be immensely relieving to get some of that off your chest regularly and to continue developing coping strategies. If you ever feel like you are in danger at your mom’s, it sounds like you do have a safe place to go with your grandmother, which is good to hear. We’ve listed some resources below that you may find helpful for you or for your mom. We wish you the very best and please feel free to call us any time at 1-800-786-2929. We are here to listen and help in any way we can.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 1-877-726-4727
National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI): 1-800-950-NAMI
Child Help (aka National Child Abuse Hotline): 1-800-422-4453
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

If a child is 15 with a baby can they leave there parents house without getting themselves or someone else in trouble.

[ccsmod3]

Hi,

Thanks you reaching out to us at NRS.

While we are not legal experts, typically if a youth is 15 years old, unless they are emancipated, they are still considered a minor and unable to leave home without a parents’ consent. Leaving home isn’t illegal for the youth, it is often considered a “status offense”, but if your parents were to make a runaway report, the police would be obligated to bring you back home. In addition, if you were to stay with an adult, that adult could get in trouble for “harboring a runaway”.

An exception to this is if there is abuse going on at home. In that case, an investigation can be initiated and sometimes the police/child protective services can allow you to stay in an alternative safe environment. If this is applicable to you, and you are interested in filing an abuse report, you can call the National Child Abuse Hotline: (800) 422-4453.

If you are not emancipated, but are interested in pursuing this, we can provide you with legal resources and information specific to your state laws. Emancipation is essentially a legal process where you would have to demonstrate to the courts that you can support yourself financially and do not need to live under your parents’ roof to do so. It is a lengthy process, but might be an option if you are currently employed.

Please do not hesitate to give us a call if you would like to discuss your situation further and see if we are able to offer you anything to help from our database of resources. We are open 24/7 and confidential: (800) 786-2929.
Best of luck!


NRS

[Guest]

hey im 16 about to be 17 and i live in south carolina i cant stand living at home with my grandmaw but i want to go live with my girlfriend and shes 28 is it legal for me to move out at 16 and live with her

[ccsmod9]

Thanks for reaching out to NRS we appreciate you reaching out to us. From what we gather about your situation it seem like you no longer want to live with your grandparents 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. What’s more is that because your girlfriend is older than 21 she could be faced with serious legal charges since you are a minor and having any type of a relationship with you means she would face serious jail time. that 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]

I am a 15 year old girl (16 in 5 months). I am not sure how to leave my house. I am not allowed to go anywhere, I have no way of talking to people (I'm on my school computer), I am verbally abused almost everyday (due to her "being too stressed from work") and my legal guardian and threatened to withhold medications. I have a family that wants me to live there and has supplied me with the legal instructions on paper. I cannot get my parent to let me go anywhere and I know she will not sign off her parental rights to the court. What should I do? I live in Iowa.

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thank you for your message. You never deserve to be abused in any way. It is not okay for your guardian to withhold medication, especially if it’s necessary. You always have the right to file an abuse report with child protective services or to talk to a teacher/guidance counselor/coach/etc to help you file a report. For more information about abuse reporting, you can call Child Help at 1-800-422-4453.
As for living with family members, unfortunately we are not legal experts so we cannot provide insight on filing those papers. If you give us a call, we’d be very happy to talk with you about resources and options. Our number is 1-800-786-2929. We hope to hear from you soon. Stay safe and stay strong!
--NRS

[Guest]

im 16 and live in Kentucky when can i move out without my parents consent

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
We aren’t legal experts, but generally you are able to leave home without permission at 18 years old. If you have further questions or want to speak more specifically about your situation, feel free to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929.
Kindly,
NRS

[Guest]

hi I'm 16 and i want to move out my mother's house because she is mentally unstable and takes anger out on me verbally and i feel as if I'd be in a better position if i was far away from her and my girlfriend also has similar problems as well what do you guys feel would be the bet choice for us?

[ccsmod5]

Hi,

Thank you for your message. It sounds like you’re having a really difficult time at home and your friend is as well. No one ever deserves to be abused in any way and it’s understandable that you would want to leave a toxic situation. You always have the right to contact child protective services if you’re feeling unsafe at home. For more information on abuse reporting, you can talk with Child Help at 1-800-422-4453.

All of that being said, if you do choose to leave home, it can be a good idea to think about the following:

-Where you’ll go (friends, family members, acquaintances, runaway shelters)
-How you’ll get there (a ride from a friend, a family member, a taxi, public transportation, biking, walking)
-How you’ll make money and get food
-A backup plan for if your plan doesn’t go as well as you’d hoped.

Here at NRS, we cannot tell you what the best choice is. However, if you give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 we are very happy to help you think through a plan and we can also try to locate resources in your area to help keep you safe. We wish you only the best and as we mentioned, you are always welcome to call us for support. We’re here 24/7.

Kindly,

NRS

[Guest]

I am a Mom on the other side of this. My daughter is almost 17 and does not like living with me and wants to move out. She refuses to go to school, do any chores in the house or show respect for anyone. We have been to counselors and she says that I just don't understand her. Our same argument is if you live here, your job is school and cleaning your room so she does not want to live here. I am not opposed to her leaving but I want her to be successful. Currently she has no driver's license, no desire to get one, no identification, no job and no knowledge of how to support and take care of herself. I suggested that we start "life lessons" since she refuses to go to school but her response to me is "I do not want to learn". My question is, do I let her leave and face the realities of living on her own (at her friends house) or do I make her stay? I feel like I am failing no matter what I do. From a teenager's perspective, am I a horrible parent or do I let her do what she wants?

[ccsmod2]

Hello there,

Thank you for reaching out to NRS and having the strength to share your story with us. We are sorry to hear about your situation and what you’ve been dealing with. It sounds like you’re doing your best to be a good parent in really caring for your daughter’s well-being and just wanting what’s best for her. We cannot tell you what choices to make, however if she were to leave, we could help her decide the safest route to do so, by reality-checking her expectations for leaving and safety-planning.

Additionally, Team H.O.P.E (Help Offering Parents Empowerment) does great work in helping parents with emotional support if your youth does leave. We are sorry that you have been placed in this position. If your daughter feels like reaching out, we are available 24/7, toll-free, and are completely confidential.

We hope this information was helpful and take care.
National Runaway Safeline
[email protected] (Crisis Email)
1-800-RUNAWAY (24 Hour Hotline)

[Guest]

I live in Pennsylvania, I am less then 6 months to 18 years old, my parents are emotionally and mentally draining me, and even have started getting physical. School is supportive of me transferring to Delaware, but I dont want my friend to be charged for kidnapping, so I ask here, am I legally allowed to leave? The internet won't tell me anything and I just want info. Children and youth said yes, and my mom (who has custody over me) has basically said, make sure you can actually leave, because I will call the police when you do. So basically she doesn't care but does not want to be charged

Thanks

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for contacting us at the National Runaway Safeline. It takes great courage to reach out for help and we are glad that you decided to reach out for help.

We are sorry to hear that things are hard at home. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If your safety is at risk you can call 911. You can also call Child Help USA at 1-800-422-4453 and they help provide you more info on filing an abuse report. It sounds like you have been thinking about leaving home. Running away from home can be hard and it can be helpful to think about where you might stay and how you might pay for food, rent and other living expenses. While we are not legal experts as you mentioned there can be some consequences to your friends if you are to leave home. In some cases the police may not pursue a runaway at 17. It is best to call the local police department emergency number to find that out. Emancipation could be another option however that generally requires you to prove that you can live by yourself and support yourself. If you call us at our 24 hour confidential hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY(786-2929) look into emancipation, listen to you, explore your situation and provide any resources.

This seems like a hard situation and you are doing great by reaching out for help. We wish you the best and hope to hear from you soon.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

Okay well im 16 i want to leave my house its so hard to stay here i was adopted at 12 and i think i rushed into the adoption i dont want to stay here i moved out of a place where i only took care of myself where now i take care of their kids and their older kid hes 18 and doesnt do half the stuff i do. i have almost all F´s in school and im trying to get it up but each time i try to do my homework the mom always ask me to do stuff for her make dinner do her laundry watch her kids clean the house im 16 i cant keep doing this for them im leaving next year senior year but i dont know if i can stay here another year and clean and care for people like im their mother. So all im asking or seeing is how do i leave this house, how do i leave like who do i have to contact.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline, we know it takes courage to reach out and we are so glad you did. It sounds like you are going through a really frustrating time right now. You could consider talking to your parents about how you are feeling. They may not even realize how you are feeling or the way they are treating you. At NRS we offer conference calling where if you call us we can call out to your parents and help you have a conversation with them. Conference calling is there to help provide support to you and help mediate the conversation so that you are heard. You may want to consider talking to a teacher or school counselor on ways you can bring up your grades. A lot of times if you explain your situation the school may be willing to work with you.
You mentioned wanting to leave home senior year or even now. We are not experts on the law but do have general information. If you were to leave before tuning 18 in most states you could be considered as a runaway. If the police found you they most likely would bring you back home. If you would like to discuss your options with us or figure out a plan, you can call us at any time.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to discuss your situation in further detail, please give us a call at any time. We wish you the best of luck, stay strong!
NRS

[Guest]

Hello. I'm 16 years of age, and live in Florida. My situation is somewhat unique, though probably not as uncommon as I think. I live with my grandparents, but from a legal standpoint my father has guardianship over me. Honestly, compared to some of the stuff I've read, my situation isn't bad at all. I'm not abused or neglected, and I'm treated well enough, but I want to move out. It's not like I don't have a reason, however. I've been homeschooled ever since I've lived with them, and have had practically no social activity whatsoever during that time, which has led me to what I believe to likely be some form of depression. Beyond that, I can't even relax or let my guard down for a second around anyone, because of the implications that I would be left with due to their beliefs and, while they would believe it to be in my best interest, what they would do would do nothing but cause me lots of stress, anxiety, and grief, even more so than I'm already dealing with. I feel like every single action I make is akin to a move in a fight, due to the consequences that follow each and every one, and I am aware that it probably isn't healthy for me. I've thought over discussing moving out with them, but I know that they, believing it to be in my best interest, would never allow it. Besides, even if they did, my father would have the final say from what I've read, and he would never go for it even if I had the chance to talk it over with him, if a conversation even took place, which would be unlikely due to the physical distance between us. I have a feeling I know how a response to this will look, but I'm hoping for some advice on this matter, because the last thing I need is to make a life altering decision like this and do it incorrectly. Thank you in advance for any advice you can give me.

[ccsmod10]

Thank you for telling us your story and reaching out. It can be difficult telling others what has happened to you. Everyone experiences things differently, so no manner what others go through these are your experiences and you have a right to feel how you feel. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do, but you don’t have to do it alone. We’re not legal experts here at NRS. Generally it’s not illegal to leave home, but your parent could file a runaway report, the police could get involved, and they could bring you home. The people you’re staying with could potentially get charged with what is called “harboring, “if your father does not give you permission to stay there. You could consider calling your local non-emergency police department to ask about their policies. We also have legal aid resources here if you have specific questions about the laws in your state.

You mentioned depression. If you’re not currently getting mental health resources, it can be really helpful to get treatment. As your mental health suffers, you have limited ability to handle the other stressors in your life. You can contact SAMHSA to connect you to mental health resources at 1-877-726-4727 or samhsa.gov.
If you don’t feel safe and feel like you need to get away Nationalsafeplace.org provides a safe location for you to meet a staff member who can take you to a designated place where you can discuss all options about how to stay safe. You can text 69866 the word “safe,” and your location (Ex:69866ChicagoSafe) to find a safe location in your area. Once you arrive let someone who works there know you need help connecting with a staff member.

One service we can offer is to conference call with your parents. This way you could have a conversation with your parents but you would not be alone. For example, it may be hard for you to explain to your dad why you want to leave. Sometimes those conversations go better in a conference call because we can advocate for you. If you want to reach us, you can chat with us anytime at 1800runaway.org or call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. We’re here 24/7, and we are ready to listen and help however we can.

You’ve been very courageous to reach out for help and try your best despite the circumstances.
Take care
-NRS.

[Guest]

Hi I’m 16 years old, about to turn 17 this upcoming January which will be next year. There’s a lot of problems happening in my life, it feels like as if I’m trapped in a jail cell the rest of my life. All I do is go to school, home, and repeat. I live with my mom and her (Fiancé), and it’s been a nightmare ever since. I live in Washington (Spanaway area). The only choices I’ve got is to move back with my grandma which I doubt she’ll even accept me for the fact that she has a lot of people living with her, and she’s struggling. I did a lot of terrible things as well, it wasn’t my choices but it just happened you know? I don’t like the way I get treated. My mom yells at the top of her lungs, her fiancé is nice to me to be honest. I’m the oldest out of my (4) siblings. I have no phones, no electronic except an iPad that I use for school only. School isn’t really for me, I’m failing everything and it’s ruining my life, I have no motivations of doing schoolwork since my parents wants to be all petty and stuff. My parents have high standards, as for me being the oldest they want good grades to get better things. I turned my life upside down last year (2016-17), I brought hard liquor to school and got arrested, got kicked out of my varsity football team, stole stuff that my mom owned. That’s why it’s reflecting back to me. It’s those type of choices that I’ve made, which will haunt me the rest of my life. That’s the worst thing a child can do to its parents. All I want to do is to leave my moms house without her consent. Move as far away as possible, unseen, and unknown. I know things will get lighter for her when I’m gone. She’ll be happy that I’m gone anyways. I wanted to reach out to my biological father, but I doubt he’ll even reach back since he left me 16 years for good. The only choices i got it is suicide and running away. I have a lot of plans when I’m grown, dreams I have to reach. I don’t need parents to support me through, I wanna do it myself. I would write plenty more but this is it for now.

[ccsmod2]

t sounds like you have been going through a lot, so we are glad you are reaching out to us in your time of need because we are here to help. You mentioned that one of the choices you have is to commit suicide. Have you talked to anyone about those feelings? If not, we want you to know that you are not alone and that there are people out there to talk to. We have people on our hotline that can discuss your situation and your feelings 24/7. We can be reached at 1-800-786-2929. We would also like to empower you to reach out to other resources like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. They offer free and confidential support whenever you would like to talk. Another is the Crisis Text Line, they can be reached by texting “HOME” to 741741. They will put you in contact with a counselor who receives the text and can respond about any type of crisis.

You also mentioned that you have a lot of plans when you’re grown and dreams you want to reach. It’s great to hear that you have goals and are working toward your future. For those plans, have you identified ways that you can get there? Sometimes taking small steps (ex. raising your grades or learning new skills) to reach those goals may help to feel as if you aren’t trapped in jail.

You also said that you did some things in the past and shared a bit about bringing alcohol to school, getting arrested, and stealing from your mom. Have you been able to talk to someone about those things since they happened? Sometimes talking it out with someone (such a school counselor or trusted adult) may help you to make choices you feel work in your favor. If you wanted to talk to someone about this, our number (1-800-786-2929) is also a good first step in expressing your feelings or talking about these situations. We could talk with you about your former choices and talk about your current ones as well. We could even discuss ways you could talk to your mother if that is something you are interested in.

Earlier in your message, you mentioned that all you do is go to school, home, and repeat, but you also mentioned that you were on the football team before. Is getting involved in sports again something you would consider an option? Getting involved may help to break up the “school, home, and repeat” schedule you mentioned earlier. If sports aren’t an option right now, are there other clubs or activities that interest you that could break up the week?

Lastly, you talked about running away. While we aren’t legal experts, we can say that running away isn’t illegal, but is considered a status offense. That means that your mom could file a runaway report with the police, which would give her the option to press charges against anyone that takes you in without her consent (this includes your grandmother and/or biological father). Since you mentioned that you have been arrested before, the police may treat this case differently, but in most cases the police would just return you to your mom’s house if they were to pick you up.

Like we said before, we are here to help but we are also here to listen. If you wanted to discuss any of the options we mentioned before, our hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Best of luck!

[Guest]

hi im 16 and an immigrant to the united states my dad wants to send me back home but i know that i would not have a future there. if my mom lets me come back to the US and allows me to stay with my friends family and my dad finds out would he be able to do anything ? like file a runaway report or try and take me from them?

[ccsmod9]

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. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. It might be a good idea to consider talking to a lawyer who might be able to answer those questions. We can try talking through things so please feel free to reach out to us at any time.
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.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS