Moving out at 17 in California

[Guest]

I am 17 years old and will be 18 in 6 months. I live in California. I have the financial means to support myself. I was planning on renting a room (obviously in a safe environment). I will graduate from high school in 3 months. I work 30 hours/week. My question is if my parents were to file a runaway report and the police found me, what are the consequences even if I can prove I am self-sufficient?

[ccsmod6]

Re: Moving out at 17 in California

Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Switchboard. It seems that you are a responsible young adult and is taking the time to plan things through before making any decisions. Running away is considered a status offense and there are generally no legal consequences. In most cases, the police will return the runaway Youth home to his or her legal guardian(s).

If you can prove that you are self-sufficient, you may want to look into getting emancipated. However, emancipation is not an over-night process and may even take months to get a final decision from a judge.

Have you been able to discuss your future plans with your parents? Do you believe that your parents will object you moving out? Will you have enough financial means to support yourself living outside of your parents’ home? Is there an alternative housing arrangement that your parents might approve of?

Since you are so close to the age of 18, it is uncertain of what the outcome may be if found by the police. If you would like to get specific legal answers, here’s a California agency that provide legal services for children that may be able to assist you. It’s called Legal
Services for Children and their toll free number is 1-888-292-4252.

Hope the information provided is useful! Also, you may contact us at 1800RUNAWAY if you need any additional assistance or provide more information so we could discuss and explore possible options. We are a confidential and anonymous hotline and are available 24/7. We look forward to hearing from you and we wish you the Best of Luck!

~NRS

[Unregistered]

moving out when 17

i am currently 17 turning 18 in Jan 2014 and need to move out but my mom wont let me work, but if i am able to work i will be able to move in with a friend if i pay rent and i would be able to work daily, currently looking for jobs and was able to find a few places to apply. So i already know where i would live, how i would be able to support myself, transportation my bike and the bus until i save up money, and im an honors and AP student so going to college is diffinetly what i plan to do, the real question is with this in mind would i be able to leave my home with getting emincipated or would i just be reported as a runaway?She also says that she will pull me out of the school of my choice but if im able to live with my friend then is that a possibility still?

[Unregistered]

thanks for the reply

yeah i have talked to her about plans but whenever i try coming up with solutions i get shut down immediently and she has said that she wouldnt want me working because i currently live out of the school district and it would cause problems since we put a different address so i could continue to go to that school even though i live 40 min away driving since my mom currently moved in with her bf but she still works in the same city where i go to school which is why im able to still go. do you know the typical time it takes to get emincipated? I want my senior year to be nice even though i would start working daily instead of participating in the sports i would normally do instead.

[ccsmod4]

Thanks for reply

Hi,
Thanks for posting.

Unfortunately we cannot give you a specific time table for being emancipated.
Every situation is unique in its own way and there may also be the need to consider possible court dates as to when your case can be heard.

You may be able to get more specific information concerning emancipation by contacting the County Court House in your city and state.

Thanks again for posting,
NRS

[ccsmod4]

Moving out when 17

Hello,
Thanks For contacting the National Runaway Safeline.
We appreciate you taking the time to post on our bulletin board at www.1800Runaway.org
You raise some pretty valid questions in regards to your situation.
It sounds like you might be asking about legally leaving home if emancipated.

Is that right?

We are not legal experts at NRS so we can only provide some general information in regards to the emancipation process.
We do empathize with your situation and recognize the seriousness of your situation.
To be considered for emancipation it usually requires parental cooperation meaning you and your parents would probably need to go through legal court proceedings.

Once a person is emancipated by the court they are considered legally independent.
To be emancipated you may also need to show proof that you are on the road to being independent in caring for yourself; so you may need to present to the court that you have a place where you pay rent, have a sufficient bank account (according to the court) and have a place of employment.
To check laws concerning emancipation you might try looking online regarding such laws in your city and state.

In regards to your school situation it may suit you to speak with a guidance counselor (if school has one) or someone in the school administration office about your continuing to attend the school. We are not aware if you are attending a private school where your mom pays tuition for you or if you are in a public school to which case may have guidelines in place for someone in your situation.

We hope that makes sense.

We understand how difficult this must be for you and we hope that you are able to come to a reasonable solution.
Please feel free to call the NRS 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) 24hr crisis line if you would like to speak to someone about your situation.

The NRS website at www.1800Runaway.org has a live chat service available from 4:30pm until 11:30pm 7 days a week.

We thank you again for posting.
Take Care

[Unregistered]

moving out

Im 17 and i would like to move in with my Grandparents to take care of them i would be living at their hose any they would be paying for my food and things i need until i graduate high school.
would it be legal for me to leave my parents house and live when them?
I babysit and pay for my food and clothes, but my mother wont let me get my liscense or a job. and she Doesnt act like a parent to me.
would it be legal for me to tell her where im going and move out.
i turn 18 in Febuary 2014.

[ccsmod4]

Moving Out

Hello,
Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.
We are not experts in the law but from general information most states set the legal age at 18 years old.
Your parents may still be considered your legal guardians which would require their legal consent for you to move out.
You can check with the local police department non-emergency number in your town for specific information about the age of majority.

It’s wonderful that you are such a caring person and that you want to help with the care of your grandparents. It’s unfortunate that your mother is not on board with your plans and has made obtaining your license and getting a job difficult for you. We understand how frustrating that must be.
Your idea sounds like a very mature plan.

Perhaps your grandparents can be an option for help in talking with your mom.
Is that something you have thought of?
We would be happy to discuss your situation with you and work with you on more possible options.

You can call our toll free 24hr crisis line at 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) and speak with one of our crisis liners or visit our website www.1800Runaway.org to utilize our Live Chat service available 7days a week from 4:30pm until 11:30pm.

We hope that you and your family are able to come to a workable agreement.
Thank you again for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.
Take Care

[KCART]

Can I move out at 17

I am 17 years old and I live in California I hate living in the house I am in I'm trying to keep my grades up but my legal guardians don't understand my position in life I think it will be easier on me and my legal guardians if I move out and stay with a family member. I turn 18 in 5 months will the cops force me to go back if will just leave the house again anyway.

[ccsmod11]

re: Can I move out at 17

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time and we are glad you reached out to us for help. Living at home under the rules of guardians can sometimes be stressful, especially when you are so close to turning 18. It also sounds like you are trying to do well in school through this stress, which shows your maturity and responsibility. What do you mean when you say your guardians don’t understand your position on life? If you are disagreeing with your guardians about something, we may be able to come up with a plan together that makes living at home less stressful. If we can figure out a way to lessen stress for you, you can focus on school more and have a better chance at keeping your grades up.

Although we’re not legal experts, generally speaking, if you leave your guardians’ home without their permission, they have a right to make a runaway report on you and the police have a responsibility to return you back home. Even if you plan to run again, the police will usually return you home unless they have a reason otherwise. If you call in, we can talk with you more about your decision to leave. We can also explore some alternatives that might work that do not include running away.

In the end, we want you to stay safe. We are nonjudgmental and nondirective, and are available at 1-800-RUNAWAY 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are also here via live chat from 4:30-11:30pm CST.

-NRS

[Unregistered]

How Can I Leave Without Running?

Hello! I'd like to tell you a little bit about my situation then ask a couple questions so you know all the facts first.

I currently live in a very small town in California with my Mother, two half brothers, and my Step Dad. I will be 17 in four months. Ive endured plenty of verbal, spiritual, and (rarely) physical abuse for around 9 years now.

I have a job, they're hard to find considering how small my town is, and make about $150 a month. My father also sends my mom $350 a month for child support and he told me when I move out he'll be sending it to me instead.

Living with other family members is not an option for me. However, I have 4 friends (and their parents) who've offered for me to stay with them if I pay $425 rent, like I promised.

My main issue is that I want to be able to leave without getting my brothers taken away from my parents. I don't want to take this to court claiming I've been abused because, its only me, but a court would decide my brothers are abused too. I still want to see my mom and brothers every once in a while I don't want our relationships to be cut off.

I don't want to be emancipated because there's no way for me to meet the requirements of being able to support myself completely, because of where I live. I can't get a simple job at Walmart or McDonald's. The closest one is almost an hour away.

My questions are:

If I leave without consent what can my mother do to make me come back? Will the police force me to go "home" or will I be put into a foster home or something of the sort?

Is there a way to be legally allowed to move out without going through the process of emancipation?

If not, and I leave without consent... Will I be considered a "runaway" and put into a system documented as one? I don't want any type of record.


Thanks so much

[ccsmod2]

Hello, Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. It is great that you are reaching out for help to explore your options. It sounds like you are dealing with a very difficult situation.

I am sorry to hear about the abuse you have been experiencing over the past 9 years. Because you are not 18 yet, your mother may have the ability to file a runaway report with the police if you leave the house without her consent. If you leave your mother's house to go live with one of your friends and your mother files a runaway report, the police could take you back to your mother's house if they were to find you. If your mother files a runaway report, you will be put into the system as a "runaway." Being a runaway is a status offense, which means that the police probably won’t arrest you for being a runaway but they may detain you and take you back to your legal guardian. Unfortunately, because of your age there are not many legal options for moving out of your mother's house unless she agrees to you moving or you going through the emancipation process.

It sounds like you are very smart and that you have thoroughly thought about your options. Have you talked to your mother and step dad about going to stay with your friends? If you would like to talk further about your options or locate some resources in your area, we answer our crisis hotline at the National Runaway Safeline 24/7, 365 days a year; our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We also have an online chat service every night from 4:30 PM-11:30PM Central Time and that can be found at www.1800runaway.org. We hope that this information helps and that if you need more you can reach out to us through our hotline or chat services.

~NRS

[kimiko]

im 17 and do with moms bull********.

Hi. Im 17 and I am going to high school in shasta lake California. My mom is unfair and makes me do all the work in the house while my three brothers play games. She sometimes tells me she can't handle me. A couple weeks ago she told me she wants to move out and leave me and my brothers here. I'm in the process of getting my permit. I have my certificate of completion from drivers ed. my boyfriends mom said i can live there for free Untill I'm out of college. Who do I contact with a phone that's shut off but can call 911

[ccsmod0]

re: im 17 and do with moms bull********.

Hi there,

It sounds like you’re having a hard time with your mom but it’s great that you reached out to us. You mentioned that your mom was saying she was going to leave so you’re maybe unsure about your living arrangements? That sounds like a really tough situation and we’re sorry you have to deal with that.

Since you are 17, you are a minor which means that if your mom leaves but decides to come back and you are living with your boyfriend she can file a runaway report which means if the police pick you up, they have to bring you back to her. Unfortunately it is also possible that your boyfriend and his family could get in trouble for harboring a runaway but we aren’t legal experts so we can only speak generally. If you would like to look into some legal aid for some more specific questions about leaving you can always contact us and we can try and help you out.

If you can’t call us to talk from your phone you can always call us toll-free from a payphone. Our number is 1800-RUNAWAY. If you have access to a computer you can possibly go to a library and from the hours of 4:30-11:30 pm CST you can chat us at www.1800runaway.org.

Best of luck to you and feel free to get in touch.

-NRS

[Unregistered]

Moving out at 17 1/2 from Arizona to California

I was researching legal information on what I needed to do in order to legally move out without my parents' consent, and it seems like I came to the right place for information. I am currently living with my mom and my stepdad. I am 17 and 4 months old, but the time that I'm planning to move out will be a couple of months from now, so I'll be 17 and a half. I looked up the legalities for moving out before I'm 18 in Arizona, and it mentioned looking into being emancipated. However, by the time I go through the process, I'll probably already be 18, and regardless, I think both my mom and my stepdad would try to argue against my leaving. My mom has already told me that I'm "not allowed to leave the house until after I finish high school," even though by that time I'll have been 18 for several months. I have living arrangements in California, stable income, and I'll look for a job as soon as I get there. I personally think that I am mature enough to live on my own, as per one of the emancipation requirements. As well as wondering what the police would do if my parents called them, I'm wondering what laws would apply (Arizona or California). Thanks in advance for any advice that you may give.