Can I move in with my boyfriend at 15?

[Unregistered]

Im 15 and I want to move in with my boyfriend. I'm having a lot of problems at home with my mom and I don't wanna be here anymore. Is there anyway I can move in with my boyfriend at this age

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Can I move in with my boyfriend at 15?

Hello,
Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.

We are not legal experts but the general information we have is probably not because you are a minor and therefore still under the guardianship of your parents.

We ask that you consider giving NRS a call at 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) so that you might tell us more about your situation and that we can explore any possible options with you.
We also are available for live chat at www.1800Runaway.org

We hope to hear from you soon.

Take Care,
NRS

[ccsmod6]

Re: Can I move in with my boyfriend at 15?

Hi there,

Thank you for sharing your situation with us here at NRS. It sounds like things at home have become quite frustrating and overwhelming for you to the point that you don’t want to be there any longer. You’re wondering if you could move in with your boyfriend at age 15. We aren’t legal experts, but in order for you to live with your boyfriend, you either need permission from your parent/guardian(s) or have to be the age of majority (which is usually age 18 in most states). If you left without permission you could be filed as a runaway and returned home, and your boyfriend or whomever you stay with could possibly be charged with harboring a runaway minor and serve jail time or have to pay legal fines- it depends on your state and the situation you’re in. If you’d like to talk more and learn about some helpful options during this difficult time.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m in a long distance relationship, we are both 15 and he lives 16 hours away . His household is ridiculous ! They are so toxic and they are not good parents also his siblings . We both don’t have money but could my bf move in with me and my family? Do we both need parent consent?

[ccsmod9]

Thanks for reaching out to NRS we appreciate the trust you give us! We are sorry that is going on with your boyfriend, It sounds like he is being mistreated and not being listened to. From what we understand about your situation yes you both would need to have both parent’s consent. If he were to leave his parents have the right to file a runaway report to the police. Anyone housing him could be charged with harboring a runaway. It might be a good idea to see if another relative who could perhaps help take care of him. That way he can be out of that home but also do it in a way where the police wouldn’t be looking for him!
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat. 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 want to run away with my 18 year old boyfriend and start a new life with him. What can the state of South Carolina do to stop me?

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We would be happy to answer any questions that you have. While we are not legal experts, we do have a great deal of experience working with runaways. If you are a minor and you leave home without your parents’ permission, your parents can file a runaway report with the police. While it is not illegal to run away, if there is a runaway report and the police encounter you, they can notify your guardians and then return you home. Additionally, your parents could potentially press charges against whomever you were staying with for harboring a runaway. This is typically considered a misdemeanor offense. If you have any other questions or if you’d like to talk more about what is going on, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello I was wondering if it's possible for me to move in with my boyfriend when he's at age 15 and I am at age 15 but we are both financially dependent without my parents permission or his parents permission. Also what if we had a child... Could they legally do anything like make me get a abortion

[ccsmod13]

Hi there, thanks for contacting the NRS. It seems like you are in a tough spot, since you are wanting to move out of your parents house, and also that your boyfriend might be going through some difficult things as well. We will try to answer your questions as best we can, and please know that you can always call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY if you want to discuss more specifics about your options and what you can control right now.

At 15, you are still legally a minor and therefore your parents have the right to file a runaway report if you leave home, and then the police will be looking for you. After you are found, they will return you home, and the same process would apply to your boyfriend. In most states, this is the case until age 18.

You mentioned you are financially dependent, and if this changes and you become financially independent before you reach 18, you could look into emancipation as an option. However, this route can be tricky because you have to legally prove you are able to care for yourself, and it can also take a considerable amount of time to actually complete the process.

As far as having a child, and whether your parents would be able to legally force you to get an abortion, it’s important to note that we are not legal experts. But in most states, even though you are a minor, you do possess certain rights regarding your healthcare and your body. It would be extremely unlikely that your parents would be able to legally force you to have an abortion if you were against it, but you would need to advocate for yourself by telling other trusted adults (such as medical providers, a teacher, or a counselor) about the situation. There are significant health risks to having a baby at age 15, and if you find yourself in that situation, you will have choices of what to do at that point. This is also something we can help you with, if you decide to call or chat with us. We can find local resources to help provide you with information and options, and get you in touch with them directly.

We wish you the best in your situation, and please reach out if we can do anything for you in the future. Best of luck.

[Guest]

Can my parents make me get birthcontrol if I don't wnat it at the age of 14?

[ccsmod15]

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. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, 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.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS