Daughter moving out

[Guest]

My 16 yr old wants to move out at 17 with her boyfriend. And also how will she she to and from school or drop out. I did move out at 17 and know it not good. But everything I say is wrong. Of course it is at 16. She thinks I couldn't understand.

[ccsmod7]

Hello there, thanks for reaching out.

Sorry to hear that you all are going through this. Sounds like you really care about your daughter’s future and you are trying to do your best. You seem like a great parent.

Typically, 18 years old is the age youth can legally move out without parental permission, so you do have some rights in this situation. If she leaves without permission, you can report her as a runaway to your local police. If she is found, she would be returned home. You can also give the police her boyfriend’s information. Filing a runaway report would take the liability off you as her guardian. If you don’t file a runaway report and something happens to her, it can unfortunately become a legal problem for you.

If you are comfortable with her staying at her boyfriend’s or somewhere else, you can always give her permission to do so as well.

Typically, homeless youth have the right to education. So if she is moving she does not necessarily have to drop out, but that all depends on her specific situation and if she wants to continue school.

You might try to pass along our number (1-800-RUNAWAY) to your daughter if you are worried about her safety or schooling. We might have some helpful resources for her around her schooling. We are non-directive so we would not tell her what to do, we would help her stay safe and go through her options with her. You, yourself, can also always call or chat us if you need. We can try to brainstorm additional options for you and provide some helpful resources. We are also here if you ever just need support and someone to talk to during this difficult time. We want to support you and your daughter as best we can.

Best of luck to you,

NRS