can a 15 year old live with friend and their parent fights for them

[Guest]

so my parents are not together but when i was 13 i ran away from my moms to go live with my dad because my mom was very toxic and mentally and verbally abusive but over the past few years my dad became more and more physiclly abusive to me so i want to know if at 15 years old can i live with my boyfriend if i dont want to live with my parents and my boyfriend is 16 and his mom would take me in her home and protect me from my parents is this illegal?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thanks for contacting NRS 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 with figuring out your next steps in this difficult situation. Asking for help was really responsible and smart of you. Abuse of any kind is never okay. You deserve to live somewhere that makes you feel safe and supported.

Because you are a minor you would need permission from your parents to live with your boyfriend's family. If you leave without permission they can report you as a runaway to the police. Running away is not illegal, but if your parents know where you are staying or you come into contact with law enforcement police would likely take you back home.

You do always have the option to report the abuse to the police or directly to child protective services. If you would like to learn more about the reporting process and how to make a report, you can speak with an advocate at childhelp.org or call 1-800-422-4453.

We truly want to be a support for you as you decide on your next steps. We are available 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out again by phone or chat if you would like to talk more in-depth about your situation and explore your options. You can contact us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org.

Stay safe,
NRS