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Can a 17 year old legally run away from home?

Can a 17 year old legally run away from home?

In general, a youth must be 18 to legally move out without a parent’s permission. However, laws vary from state to state and these laws are not enforced equally. Some police departments do not choose to actively pursue older runaways if they are nearing the age of majority.

Are 17 year olds allowed to run away?

• 16 and 17 year-olds Over 16s can leave home without the consent of parents or carers. A parent can try to force the young person to return home but a court would be unlikely to make them return against their will.

Why do 17 year olds run away?

Why Kids Run Away Many kids run away because of drug and alcohol abuse. When teens and pre-teens get involved in substance abuse, they may leave home to hide it so their parents don’t find out. These kids are often using a lot more than their parents know; they want to use more freely and openly, so they run away.

What states allow running away at 17?

There are nine states with runaway laws regarding minor. These states are Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming, according to the American Bar Association. In these states running away from home is only illegal if the person is under eighteen.

Can my parents call the cops if I runaway at 16?

Parents or legal guardians can report a runaway to the police at any time. Federal Law prohibits any law enforcement agency from establishing a waiting period before accepting a runaway-child report. Runaways who are fleeing an abusive situation and do not want to return home should tell police about the abuse.

What happens to a 17 year old runaway?

The 17 year old runaways have the following legal options: Contact the local police or shelter to help them return home. The court may grant guardianship but the parents will still have to provide for the child. The child may ask for emancipation in an emancipation proceeding where they get to become adults.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn6VpWNsRtk

Can a 17 year old run away from home?

If you’re older than 17 then you should be allowed to leave home with any reprocussions. If you want to explore this some more and tell us what else is happening at home we can explore things that might be available to you depending on your situation. You can call us at 1800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We’re anonymous, confidential and available 24/7.

How to help a child run away from home?

Consider calling 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-RUN-AWAY) or going to http://www.1800runaway.org to talk about the situation and all the options you have. Address the motivation for wanting to run away, if possible. There are many reasons why a child would want to run away.

Where can I live if I want to run away?

Since you’re feeling like you can’t be at home and you just want a safe place, there are sometimes some shelters where you can live without the fear of getting arrested or returned home. You said you lived in Georgia…in what city in GA do you live?

Is it against the law to run away from home?

In Georgia, Idaho, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming, running away from home is a status offense, meaning that it’s against the law if you are under 18. However, if your parents or guardians have tried to hurt you, you should get away and this is perfectly legal – but you have to do it in the right way.