Can I move out without getting in trouble?

I live in California. I’m 17 and a half and I want to move out of my house already. Is there a way that I can leave with out worrying if my mom is gonna call the cops on me and report me as a runaway? And can the people that I’m staying with get in to trouble by letting me stay with them?

Answer #1

Hi delia,

Until you’re 18, the only way you can move out without any consequences is to become emancipated from your parents. It is a lengthy, legal process:

To be emancipated, you must either:

  1. Be living APART from your parents and managing your own money
  2. Be in the armed forces
  3. Be married
  4. The court must decide that an emancipation is in the best interests of you or your parents

The process of emancipation:

Either you or your parents can start the emancipation process. The person who starts the process files, or has a lawyer file, an ‘emancipation petition’ with the court. If you need a lawyer to start this process or to defend yourself and you cannot afford one, the juvenile court may appoint one for you at no charge.

There will be a meeting (or hearing) in front of a judge to talk about the emancipation petition. Only the judge can order the emancipation.

Since you will be 18 in six months, I would just wait until then to move out if you still feel it is right for you.

Good luck.

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