Moving out at 17 in California

[ccsmod16]

Re: Moving out at 17 in California

Hi, thank you for reaching out to NRS today. That’s why we’re here, to listen and to help. It sounds like you feel that home isn’t the right place for you any longer, and are thinking about what information you need before making your next move. While we aren’t legal experts here, we can speak in general terms about your question. Because you are not yet 18, if you decided to leave home without your parent’s permission, running away could be considered a status offense – similar to getting caught smoking underage. In that situation, were you to be stopped by law enforcement, family reunification typically is the goal, though that can vary by state and even police department. One thing you may want to consider is calling your local police department and asking anonymously how they would handle a similar situation, given that you within a year of being considered an adult in California.

You mentioned having a place to live, and that’s good that you have a plan and are thinking about your safety and needs. If you were going to stay with another adult, it’s important to know that there could be legal consequences to consider for him/her, such as harboring a runaway charges, which can be more serious in nature. Again, we are not legal experts here, so you may want to consider seeking out legal advice for your specific situation – if you wanted to pursue this, we do have a database of legal aid resources from which we can provide referrals to you.
We hope that helps answer some of your questions – it sounds like you have thought about your employment situation for money, your shelter needs as well as continuing to keep up with your schoolwork – all good things that demonstrate that you are being thorough and thinking about your safety. If you have any additional questions or want to pursue some of the referrals from our database, please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY, via our chat service or on this forum.
Good luck and we hope to hear from you soon.

[Unregistered]

17 and moving out

I am currently 17 i will be 18 in November, i have graduated high school &&' i have had a job for a year and im currently waiting to hear on a different job to see if i get hired . Things with my parents arent that great , i never go out to parties , all i do is work and go home , i am not pregnant, i dont do drugs and i help at home. I pay for all my things like clothes shoes and phone . I want to move out but i dont know if i can leave without anything happening to me . My friend who is 18 already has offered to give me a place to stay but my parents dont want me to leave . I want to be on my own because i know i can sustain myself but I don't know what will happen. I only have the dream act and only my mom has legal papers . Will i cause them any major problems if i leave ?

[ccsmod6]

Re: 17 and moving out

Hello there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). It sounds like you're wanting to be independent from your parents, but they are not willing to let you leave. It seems you are wondering what the consequences of leaving would be- especially if your family would get into trouble. We cannot say what would happen. It all really depends on your state laws and how police would respond to runaway cases of 17 year old youth in your area. It may help to check in with local law enforcement or a legal aid office with specialty in juvenile law and possibly immigration law just to be sure.

We hope this helps. If we can offer any resources or information please let us know by phone or chat.

Good luck and be safe.

Best,

NRS

[Unregistered]

Re: Moving out at 17 in California

I feel as if my parents dont understand my objectives in life and what i want todo in my future even though i explain to them all the time is that my big plan is to go to college and graduate. Unfortunatly my parents have tunnel vision and only care abput themselves. they are those type of parents that will buy you things then once you hva eone mess up, they bring up that your not appreciaitive of the things that are paid for you and immediatly wont let you talk to them at all. Its as if they are scared to hear my side/opinion.. They continously rag on communication is key but yet they dont even know how to communicate without yelling at me telling my to shut up and calling me vigous names such as an asshole for no apparent reason. Their 3 key principles in the house are to show respect, do as told, and be appreciative of things. Even though i show high respect, its never eneough. Even though i may talk back sometimes to prove a point and spread my opinion, im the worst guy ever to be made in the world. I hate living here..

[ccsmod1]

RE: Re: Moving out at 17 in California

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us. We are sorry to hear that your parents yell and call you names. That sounds very hurtful and frustrating. It sounds like you are struggling to feel understood and are having a difficult time at home. It sounds like you have a tough time talking to your folks about how you feel, which sounds very difficult. We are here to listen and support you in any way that we can. It sounds like you might be thinking about moving out before you turn 18. 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian. If you are under 18 and leave home without permission, your parent/guardian may file a runaway report with the police, who might search for you and force you to return home. Running away is not a crime, however anyone who allows you to stay with them could risk criminal charges for harboring a runaway. If you have any questions or you want to talk over a plan to deal with your situation, you can always call us here at 1-800-RUNAWAY 24/7, or join us for live chat. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.

[Unregistered]

Moving out at 17

So my mom is constantly treating me like trash after my brother practically bullies me whatever chance he gets. My brother is constantly giving my mom a reason to argue with me and my mom's boyfriend will be screaming at me after a fight with either my brother or my mom. I'm 17 and wanting to know if I can move out at that again without parents permission in the state of California. My boyfriend and his family are offering to take me in because they know what goes on in my living situation. I want to move in with them but knowing my mother she will bring the law inforcement in the issue and try to get them in trouble. If she does so what would be the concenquences me and my boyfriend's family would have to deal with.

[Unregistered]

Moving out at 17, 18 in 3 months

My sister has been my legal gaurdian since 14, recently home life has become stressful and emotionally toxic, for both of us. I have been working for almost a year, am a high school graduate, and I have the means to support myself on my own. An incident occurred where we got in a fight and I left (clearly stating just for the night) to go to a friends house. She started chasing me with her car yelling at me to get in. Later she threatened that if I didn't come home she'd call the cops. She also said that if I didn't come home she was going to change the locks. I came home. I have somewhere to go, am able to support myself financially, and I am turning 18 in 3 months. If she does call the police if I try to leave, will they make me go back home?

[ccsmod10]

Re: Moving out at 17, 18 in 3 months

Hi There!

Thanks for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you had a difficult time recently with the argument with your sister. We are sorry that you had to go through that. You mentioned that you have a place to stay and a job, which are great things to have when things about leaving home. Some other things to think about are how long you are able to stay there and what are the expectations of rules they have. Also, what would be the plan for the future. Thinking of this before leaving can help prepare for anything that may be unexpected and shine some light to future safety and well-being.
You seem to have some great concern if the police are involved. If you leave home without permission, your legal guardian does have the right to calling the police to file a runaway report as an effort to try to return you home and regain your safety as the police are required to do so. Being 17 and so close to being 18 may possibly have some affect on this in various ways. it can mean they may not take the report or do not search for youth as extensively. We are not legal experts here, so we are unable to say for certain what would happen. An option to get more specific information of how the police would respond, you can call out to your local police districts non-emergency number to ask without having to give any information of your situation or about yourself. If you feel uncomfortable doing so, you can always call us at 1800-RUNAWAY first and we can call out for you or with you .

We hope this was helpful. If there is anything else that we could do to help you or support you, you can always call us!

Best Wishes,
NRS

[yadira ventura]

moving out at the age 17

I wanted to know if I can leave my house at the age 17 I'm be 18 in 5 more months and I been thinking about moving out but my mom keeps on telling me I can't move out until I'm 18 but she been wanting me to move out ever since I turn 17 but she doesn't let me the house me and my mom don't get along we're always arguing about something and she always telling she don't want me there at her house no more what can I do ?

[ccsmod16]

Re: Moving out at 17 in California

Hey there!

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like things have been difficult and confusing at home.

At 17-years-old you are still considered a minor. If you leave home now without your mother’s permission, she could file a runaway report. This would mean that the police would be notified that you had left home and would be looking for you. Depending on your state and county, if you are found, you might incur a “status offense.” This will not appear on your permanent record, but the juvenile court system may get involved.

If your mother throws you out of your home before you turn 18, you will be considered a throwaway and she might face legal repercussions for doing so. We are not legal experts at NRS, so if you are interested in learning more about this it’s suggested that you call your local county police office.

We hope we have been helpful and if you would like to talk more about your situation and help brainstorming your options, we strongly encourage you to call us or live chat us.

Best wishes,
NRS

[Guest]

Am 17 and will be 18 in 8 months I want to run away from home and live with my boyfriend but my parents don't want me to what can I do to live with him he has 2 jobs and his owe place ps am about to graduate high school in 4months

[ccsmod0]

Hi there,
Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like things are difficult at home right now. Home should be a place where you feel safe and loved. We are here to help you explore your options.
You mentioned that you are considering running away from home. It’s understandable to want to leave home, especially since you are so close to being 18. While we are not legal experts, generally speaking if you were to run away from home without your parent’s permission, they have the right to file a runaway report with the police. This means if the police find you, they can make you return home. Also, if your boyfriend is a legal adult, he could be charged for harboring a runaway which could result in jail time and legal fees. These are just some things to consider if you left home without your parent’s permission.
Other options could be to see if your parents would give you permission to leave home for a short period of time, perhaps as a trial period. Another option would be to see if your parent’s would let you stay with a close friend or family member, someone they might be more comfortable with. We also offer a conference calling service where you, your parents and someone from here can talk and try to problem solve what’s going on. You have several options.
Depending on what’s going on at home, if you feel the need to leave home right away, we can also help you look up youth shelters in your area. You deserve to feel safe.
If you would like further help exploring any of these options or others in more detail, please feel free to reach out to us directly by calling us at 1-800- RUNAWAY or chatting with us live on our website at www.1800.runaway.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi there,
I was wondering if I can move out at the age 17 to be with my uncle a family member? The reason is I have an abusive dad my mom doesn't care. They had tried to kick me out of the house twice and tried to send me to mexico. Im afraid to do anything for the reason I will get send away to Mexico. And accident happen to me in Mexico and never had that childhood of a teen because whenever I made a mistake I would be punished really bad. My family member wouldn't know what happen to me until I speak out and told them what really goes on at the house. My uncle is willing to have me so I can move in but my mom inst letting it happen telling me ¨Until your 18 you can move out¨ I been suffering for 5 years I cant take it anymore. I want to start a new life having a supported family member who help me accomplished my goal for high school and career.

[ccsmod6]

Hi,
Thanks so much for taking the time to reach out to us tonight. It sounds like you’re in a really stressful situation right now. We are so sorry to hear about your abusive dad and the fact that your mom doesn’t care. It sounds like you really don’t want to go to Mexico, but that’s understandable considering your bad experiences there in the past. We are glad that your uncle is so supportive of you. You deserve to have a supportive person like that in your life.
So when it comes to runaway laws, normally when you leave before the age of 18 you’re considered a runaway. Running away is not illegal but it is considered a status offense, which means you would not be arrested and it would not go on your record, but your parents would have the right to file a runaway report with the police and the police would be looking for you and would have to take you back home if they found you. If you told the police about how your dad abuses you they would get child protective services involved and would investigate the situation, so that is an option that you have if you feel comfortable doing that.
Something else you could consider – some police departments do not take runaway reports for 17 year olds because they are so close to being 18, especially if they’re living with someone who is more stable than their actual home. This differs from police department to police department though, so you would have to reach out to your local police department and see what exactly they would do in your case. You could also call into our number and we would be happy to call out to your local police department for you.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out again if you need any more help or have any more questions. We are 24/7, so someone will always be here to listen and here to help.
We wish you the best of luck!

[Guest]

Hi, i have a little sister i live in texas and she lives out in California, her mother is a neglective, irresponsible, poor parent who makes my sister care and babysitt while she goes out and does god knows what, and keeps her on lock down, wont let her leave and have fun , instead forcing her to care for her babysister as if it was her own child, well anyways my question is if she is 17 and decides to take a plan over here to texas and moves in with me and finish off her senior year here in texas, can her mother report a case of runaway? Even if im family and shes under great care with love.

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to us. It sounds like you care a lot about your sister and that you’re asking what would happen if your sister left her home in California to come live with you in Texas.

We aren’t legal experts here, but we can give you some basic information. If your sister left home without her mom’s permission, her mom could file a runaway report with the police as long as your sister is still a minor (under the age of 1. Running away is a status offense since it involved minors, which means it would not go on a criminal record. If the police find her, they could make her return home to her mom, since her mom has full custody, and anyone she stays with could possibly be charged with harboring a runaway.

That said, these situations are handled differently in each city and state, and depending on the individual situation, especially for youth that are close to turning 18. Oftentimes some of the factors that police would consider would be the living arrangement, living environment, if the youth remains in school, if the youth was unsafe before, if the youth is in a safe now, and what the youth’s plan is.

This all gets a bit more complicated once state lines have been crossed, but one option is to call your local police department and as how they would handle a situation of a 17-year old running away from home in another state to live with a family member in Texas. You wouldn’t have to give your name or any identifying information, but they may be able to give you more specific information.

Your sister is also always welcome to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 to talk through what’s going on at home and what her options are. We are here 24/7 and are here to listen and to help.

NRS

[Guest]

Hello, I'm 17 and I just graduated high school. I took courses at a local community college, so I was able to obtain diploma. And I'm going to a cal state in a few months. If I moved out with a friend or something would that be considered running away? Can my parents report me even though I graduated?

[ccsmod6]

Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’re think of moving away from home. It also sounds like you’ve made a great accomplishment by graduating high school, taking college courses, and planning to go to college!
We’re not legal experts here at NRS, but generally it’s not illegal to run away from home. However, your parents could file a runaway report, the police could bring you home if they find you, and the people you’re staying with could potentially get in trouble for harboring a runaway. Some police stations don’t take runaway reports for 17 year olds, but the policies and laws often differ by city and state. We have some legal aid resources where you could call a lawyer and ask questions about the laws in your state. You could also consider calling your local nonemergency police department and asking them about their policies on runaways.
We have other resources that could help you work through anything going on at home or help you with anything else you may need. If you would like more information about any resources or if you’d like to talk more about what’s been going on, you can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or chat with us online.
Again, thank you for contacting us. You’ve shown a lot of strength by reaching out for help. If you ever need anything in the future, please feel free to call us or chat with us online. We’re always here to listen and here to help.

[Guest]

Im 17 i will be 18 in 6 months am i able to move out without telling my parents telling me no? Its unfair at home and im ready to leave i already have a place to go and a job lined up

[ccsmod10]

Hi, thank you for reaching out to use here at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’re thinking about leaving home, we’re not legal experts here, but can give you some information.
In California the age of majority, where you legally become an adult, is 18. If you leave home without your parent’s permission before you turn 18, your parents can file a runaway report with the police. The police may investigate, and can return you home, but enforcement varies in each locality. The best way to find out how the police might enforce in your situation is to call the local police non-emergency number during regular hours and ask them. The call can be made confidentially, we can also help with the call if you call us here on our 24/7 Safeline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).
There is a lot to think about if you leave home. You need a safe place to stay, and a way to support yourself. It’s good you are thinking these things through. You also should have ID, like an ID card, social security card, and birth certificate. If you would like to talk about your options, you can call us here 24/7, or chat with us through our website during chat hours.
Again, it’s really good you are thinking your options through. Stay safe, and best of luck. We’ll look forward to hearing from you.
NRS