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I’m 16, can I legally move out of my parents?

BillieTheBotBillieTheBot Posts: 8,721 Bot
edited December 2018 in Articles

imageI’m 16, can I legally move out of my parents?

I’m 16, can I legally move out of my parents? - The Mix asks an expert.

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Comments

  • BMENDEZBMENDEZ Posts: 1 Just got here
    edited December 2018
    Can I legally leave my house at 16 without my parents consent in Minnesota
  • MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 611 Incredible Poster
    Hi there,

    Unfortunately, The Mix is a UK based charity so we are limited in the support we can provide to you.

    I'm not sure what your home situation is like, but have you considered the first part of the article- perhaps looking into counselling or family therapy?

    As we are UK based, we don't know the laws in Minnesota. You may want to contact 2-1-1 http://www.211.org/ to see if they can help you. That said, if you are looking for emotional support, feel free to sign up to our discussion boards https://community.themix.org.uk/ to chat and get support from other young people.

    Take care,

    Mary-Ellen@TheMix
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  • awasavage07awasavage07 Posts: 1 Just got here
    if i decide to pack my bags and leave at 16 can my parents stop me in anyway
  • SienaSiena Posts: 15,463 Skive's The Limit
    edited December 2018
    Hi @awasavage07

    Legally your parents can’t stop you, as at 16 you can leave home. They could maybe try to stop you but may have little control if you’re not in danger

     Though it is maybe best to get advice from other people more about your specific situation. And it’s  always lil bit easier if leave home with parents support, but every situation is different. The article has a link that says Shelter https://england.shelter.org.uk/ maybe useful & has a free advice helpline

    But you need to be safe if leave home and need to think about things financially and ways you will be able to look after yourself 


    take care
    “And when they look at you, they won't see everything you've been through. They won't see the **** that turned to scars that began to fade with time. They won't see the heartbreaking things that shook up and changed your entire world. They won't know how many tears you cried or even what it was you were crying about. They won't see how strong you had to be because you had no other choice. What they will see though is how compassionate you are because you experienced pain. What they will see is how kind you are because you experienced how cruel the world is. What they will see is how good you are because you've seen how bad things or people can be. The difference between you and your experiences are who you choose to be, despite everything that could have turned you cold and unkind.You are the good the world needs and the best of us.” ~ Kirsten Corley
  • MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 611 Incredible Poster
    Hi @awasavage07

    It's not possible for us to say for sure whether your parents could stop you from leaving at 16 as it depends on where you are in the world. If you are in the UK, then the article states that "If you’re 16 and over you can leave home without your parents’ or carers’ consent. You’re unlikely to be made to go back home unless you are in danger. It’s not usually a good idea to leave home before you’re 18. If you’re feeling desperate, try to get advice before you pack your bags."

    I'm wondering if you have thought about whether family counselling might help in your situation? Leaving home at a young age, and without a definite place to stay can leave you vulnerable to the possibility of becoming homeless. If you feel you need to get away, then it's best to contact Shelter https://www.shelter.org.uk/ for more help on housing situations.

    If you'd like to get support or chat with other young people about any difficulties you might be facing, feel free to sign up to our discussion boards: https://community.themix.org.uk/

    Take care,

    Mary-Ellen@TheMix
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  • trinitihibbardtrinitihibbard Posts: 1 Just got here
    I cant deal with my parents they mentally abuse me and i cant deal with them anymore. I live in texas i was wonder hlw old i need to be to move ojt and go live with my boyfriend?
  • MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 611 Incredible Poster

    Hi @trinitihibbard

     

    I’m sorry to hear how you feel your parents mentally abuse you. It’s understandable that you would feel you can’t deal with it anymore and want to move out with your boyfriend.

     

    Unfortunately, The Mix is based in the UK, so we are limited in the support we can provide to you. You might want to try looking up the laws in your own area or alternatively you can contact 2-1-1 http://www.211.org/ and see if they can help you. While you can post on our discussion boards https://community.themix.org.uk/ for emotional support, you might want to try reaching out to other trust worthy adults in your life such as other relatives, teachers, parents of friends, counsellor etc. for more support.

     

    Take care,

     

    Mary-Ellen@TheMix


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  • nimra125nimra125 Posts: 1 Just got here
    so If I am 18 I can leave by my self
    Can I ask u something els old do u need to be in order to join collage
  • MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 611 Incredible Poster

    Hi @nimra125

     

    If you are 18 and, in the UK, you can legally leave home. However, it’s always best to make sure you have a place to stay (friends, relatives, council accommodation, supported housing or renting a property). Leaving without a plan in place, especially if you aren’t financially independent, can leave you homeless (in which case Shelter https://www.shelter.org.uk/ can help with that).

     

    As for college, you’ll usually need to be at least 16 to go to college, usually after finishing your GCSE exams.

     

    Hope this helps a bit,

     

    Mary-Ellen@TheMix


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  • danny_221danny_221 Posts: 1 Just got here
    hello i am 16 can i leave home without my parent knowing and live with a friend
  • MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 611 Incredible Poster

    Hi @danny_221

     

    If you are in the UK, the article states that “If you’re 16 and over you can leave home without your parents’ or carers’ consent. You’re unlikely to be made to go back home unless you are in danger. It’s not usually a good idea to leave home before you’re 18. If you’re feeling desperate, try to get advice before you pack your bags.”

     

    So while you can leave without consent, it might not be a good idea to leave without telling them as they may be concerned and report you as missing if they don’t know if you are in any danger.

     

    If you would like to talk more about your circumstances and get support, you can chat in our discussion boards https://community.themix.org.uk/ and if you are in the UK and under 25, you can get one-to-one support from our team https://www.themix.org.uk/get-support/speak-to-our-team Alternatively, you can also talk to ChildLine https://www.childline.org.uk/

     

    Take care,

     

    Mary-Ellen@TheMix


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  • bbashirbbashir Posts: 1 Just got here

    Hey, I'm in a really bad situation where I am mentally and sometimes even physically abused by my mum but I still love her to bits but I need to get out of that toxic situation. I was wondering if I could move out on my own but still carry on with my education. I'm not sure about my local council's policies and how they can help me.
    It would be great if you could help, thank you.
  • MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 611 Incredible Poster

    Hi @bbashir

     

    Sorry to hear that you are in bad situation at home being mentally and physically abused by your mum. You don’t deserve that at all, and it makes sense that despite the abuse, you still love your mum. Would it be worth exploring family therapy at all? If so, you might want to check out our article on family here: https://www.themix.org.uk/sex-and-relationships/family-life/family-therapy-7961.html

     

    If you do decide to leave home, I’m wondering if you have a place to stay in mind or any relatives or friends you could stay with? If not and you are under 16, it may be more difficult to find a place to rent. If renting isn’t a possibility, then you could contact your council and state that you are homeless. For more information on this, feel free to check out our homelessness article here: https://www.themix.org.uk/housing/housing-problems/am-i-homeless-8107.html For further information, you can also check out Shelter’s website for information and advice https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice

     

    Unfortunately we aren’t professionals so we can’t say for sure, but in theory, if you left home, you should still be able to continue with your education. However, this may depend on whether you have accommodation from Shelter or the council, or whether you would have to pay to rent privately. If you have to pay, then you will need to get information about benefits and work (depending on your age), which Shelter and Citizen’s Advice https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ can help with.

     

    If you’d like more support, feel free to reach out on our forums or contact our team directly https://www.themix.org.uk/get-support/speak-to-our-team for one-to-one support.

     

    Take care <3


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  • myarules225myarules225 Posts: 1 Just got here
    im about to be 16 and having parent issues and wanna move out to live with my boyfriend and i dont wanna be emancipated so can i just move out
  • MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 611 Incredible Poster

    Hey @myarules225

     

    Sorry to hear that you are having problems with your parents. It’s difficult to say if you could just move out with your boyfriend. As the article states “If you’re 16 and over you can leave home without your parents’ or carers’ consent. You’re unlikely to be made to go back home unless you are in danger. It’s not usually a good idea to leave home before you’re 18. If you’re feeling desperate, try to get advice before you pack your bags.”

     

    However, this advice applies to the UK, where we don’t have emancipation as such. If you aren’t in the UK, then you may want to look for support in your own area. If you are in the US or Canada, you can contact 2-1-1 http://211.org/ and they may be able to help you.

     

    Take care <3


    FAQ | How to report a post | How to report spam
    I'm a community moderator. I'm here to help guide discussions and make sure Community Guidelines are followed. I can't send DMs, but you can message @TheMix or email community@themix.org.uk with questions or concerns.
  • lexxx_lexxx_ Posts: 1 Just got here
    Hey i am 15 and want to move out as soon as i turn 16. ive been reading and heard you can move out without your parents consent. i told my dad about me moving out and said that he will take me to court and call the police on me and say im missing. I am mentally breaking down in this house and feel depressed all the time. my parents dont realize that all their rules and way of dealing with me cause me to be sad all the time. i have done the math on how much i will make and i will have a friend living with me. i will attend school as well. i feel i am responsible to move out.
  • MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 611 Incredible Poster

    Hi @lexxx_

     

    Sorry to hear that you breaking down over the way your parents are treating you. It’s natural that you’d want to move out as soon as you can, given your circumstances. Would it not be possible to see if your parents might agree to some family therapy? If you think that might be an option, feel free to check out our article here: https://www.themix.org.uk/sex-and-relationships/family-life/family-therapy-7961.html Otherwise, for the time being (and especially given the current coronavirus circumstance), you might want to read up on how to deal with problematic parents https://www.themix.org.uk/sex-and-relationships/family-life/problematic-parents-3290.html for some helpful pointers.

     

    I understand that hearing your dad say he would call the police/report you missing and take you to court can be disheartening to hear. However, the article does say “If you’re 16 and over you can leave home without your parents’ or carers’ consent. You’re unlikely to be made to go back home unless you are in danger. It’s not usually a good idea to leave home before you’re 18. If you’re feeling desperate, try to get advice before you pack your bags.” If you aren’t in the UK, you might want to look up the laws in your own area.

     

    It sounds like you could do with someone to talk to, especially if you feel your depression is caused by your parents. Have you tried talking to your friend about this? Now that you have an account, you can also join in our discussion boards https://community.themix.org.uk/ for a safe place to chat, vent and get support from other young people. You can also contact our team directly https://www.themix.org.uk/get-support/speak-to-our-team for one-to-one support. If you are outside of the UK, you can check out 2-1-1 http://211.org/ to find support local to you.

     

    Take care <3


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  • Jamessaw54Jamessaw54 Posts: 1 Just got here
    If im 16 in Indiana can i move out and be legally free
  • DancerDancer Community Champion Posts: 7,739 Master Poster
    If im 16 in Indiana can i move out and be legally free
    Just telling you what @Maisy said to another user.

    If you aren’t in the UK, you might want to look up the laws in your own area.
    "There's a part of me I can't get back. A little girl grew up too fast. All it took was once. I'll never be the same." ~ Demi Lovato
    "The way that I have found the light in my life is through the expressive arts because I know that I will be accepted for the way I am." ~ Me
    "I'm going to get strong again and see you soon. " ~ Anonymous 
  • MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 611 Incredible Poster

    Hi @Jamessaw54

     

    As @Kasa2103 said, since The Mix is based in the UK, you might want to look up the laws in your own area as we are unable to help you. You might also want to try contacting 2-1-1 http://211.org/ to see if they can help you.


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    I'm a community moderator. I'm here to help guide discussions and make sure Community Guidelines are followed. I can't send DMs, but you can message @TheMix or email community@themix.org.uk with questions or concerns.
  • Rose5911Rose5911 Posts: 1 Just got here
    I’m 16 and i want to move away from my parents cause they mentally abuse me..could i move in with a friend in NY
  • JustVJustV Community Manager Posts: 5,285 Part of The Furniture
    Rose5911 said:
    I’m 16 and i want to move away from my parents cause they mentally abuse me..could i move in with a friend in NY

    Are you currently based in the UK, @Rose5911

    We're not experts but we can get a vauge idea of your options based on the info we have. :)

    It sounds really tough living at home. Nobody should have to face abuse of any kind, much less in their own home and by their own family. Really glad you decided to reach out to us here and feel free to start a dedicated support discussion about what's going on if you like. We're here.
    All behaviour is a need trying to be met.
  • skysvedaskysveda Posts: 1 Just got here
    Can I legally move out at 16 If I liked to?
  • MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 611 Incredible Poster
    Hey @skysveda

    The article states that “If you’re 16 and over you can leave home without your parents’ or carers’ consent. You’re unlikely to be made to go back home unless you are in danger. It’s not usually a good idea to leave home before you’re 18. If you’re feeling desperate, try to get advice before you pack your bags.”

    So it may be possible to move out at 16 if you wanted to, though its not always a good idea as you may run into problems trying to find somewhere to live and being financially independent.

    However, it also depends on where in the world you are. This information is applicable to UK residents only, so if you don’t live in the UK, then you may want to look up the laws in your own area.

    Whatever your situation is, we are here for you.
    FAQ | How to report a post | How to report spam
    I'm a community moderator. I'm here to help guide discussions and make sure Community Guidelines are followed. I can't send DMs, but you can message @TheMix or email community@themix.org.uk with questions or concerns.
  • WolfAlice16WolfAlice16 Posts: 1 Just got here
    Hi I'm 16 and I'm from the UK I live in Bristol and I'm moving out of my home to escape my abusive dad I'm looking to move into a shared accommodation and my loving mother is willing to pay the rent for me to stay in one. Will this be a possibility.
  • MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 611 Incredible Poster

    Hey @WolfAlice16

     

    Really sorry for the very late reply!

     

    As the article states “If you’re 16 and over you can leave home without your parents’ or carers’ consent. You’re unlikely to be made to go back home unless you are in danger. It’s not usually a good idea to leave home before you’re 18. If you’re feeling desperate, try to get advice before you pack your bags.” so if you have accommodation lined up and your mother is willing to help pay, then it may be possible to leave home. However, we can’t say for sure as we aren’t legal or financial experts. For more specific advice, you may want to try contacting citizens advice https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ to see if they can advise you further.

     

    Feel free to update us on your situation- you might want to use our discussion boards too https://community.themix.org.uk/

     

    Take care <3


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  • A_marieA_marie Posts: 1 Just got here
    Hi Im 16 about to turn 17 I just want to know if there is a posible way that I can leave home with my mom consent and she knowing were i will be on new jersey?
  • MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 611 Incredible Poster

    Hey @A_marie

     

    Unfortunately, we can only offer advice and support to those living in the UK as The Mix is based in the UK. Since you are in New Jersey, you might want to contact 2-1-1 https://www.211.org/ who may be able to help you or put you in touch with services who can help you.

     

    All the best!


    FAQ | How to report a post | How to report spam
    I'm a community moderator. I'm here to help guide discussions and make sure Community Guidelines are followed. I can't send DMs, but you can message @TheMix or email community@themix.org.uk with questions or concerns.
  • maria123456maria123456 Posts: 1 Just got here
    Hi, i'm 16 and I want to leave home and live with my friend, she is 18, but if my parents call the cops, I am afraid that my friend will be legally concerned, so I don't want to make problems to anyone. What if my parents call the cops, what will happen?
  • JustVJustV Community Manager Posts: 5,285 Part of The Furniture
    Hi, i'm 16 and I want to leave home and live with my friend, she is 18, but if my parents call the cops, I am afraid that my friend will be legally concerned, so I don't want to make problems to anyone. What if my parents call the cops, what will happen?
    Are you based in the UK @maria123456? If so, the article should be able to help. :)
    All behaviour is a need trying to be met.
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