How can I go about leaving home legally?

Question

I am sixteen years old. I live with both of my parents. Their marriage is failing they hate my twenty year old sister who is living with us. My sister is into drugs and drinking. My parents suspect that I am into the same things. So I'm put on lock down for no reason at all. I want to know how if I can go live with my fifteen year old boyfriend and his parents legally? If I can then how do I go about doing that?

Answer 1

You are not being abused or neglected.  You are simply being restricted, and that is perfectly legal.  It may be overzealous, but it's not abusive.  If you are allowed to leave your room to eat, use the bathroom, and attend school, then that is acceptable.  No court will legally transfer guardianship or grant emancipation without proof of abuse or neglect.

It's unfair that you have been grounded without proof, and you should calmly address this with your parents.  Remind them that you are innocent until proven guilty, and ask that they trust you until you, and not your sister, give them reason not to.  Suggest that the "lockdown" be amended to constant updates - you call them whenever you leave/arrive anyplace, they speak with the parents of any home you visit, etc.  Even offer to take regular drug tests and account for all your spending, if that concerns them.  It may not be total freedom, but it's better than what you have now.

Answer 2

I was in a similar situation when I was your age. I left home the second I turned 17 . There wasnt anything that I could do unless I had legal documentation of abuse or neglect. Which I did have evidence of abuse but still I wasnt old enough to pay for a lawyer. So I had to wait it out until I turned 17. At that age you can legally leave home in my state. I still look back and wonder where my life would have went if I had only grown up a bit before leaving. It was bad but I dont know if it was as bad as my young mind made it. I dont regret any of it because I have lived my life the way I wanted to. And I am proud of who I am but I Just wonder sometimes.

Answer 3

You can get emancipated, but you have to go before a judge and show why you don't like it there. And if it is a good reason to leave. You usually have to have a strong case behind you.     Maybe your parents are putting you in lock down because they don't want you to have a life filled with drugs and alcohol.

Answer 4

You have to be emancipated through the court in most cases. Look into it. Rules differ from place to place. But I would think that if you're in a bad environment like that, you have a better chance of being able to live with other people.

Answer 5

You could try to get emancipated but you would have to prove to the courts that you can support yourself.  You will need to earn enough money to feed, house and clothe yourself.  You will also need just cause for the emancipation...being put on lock down is not a good enough reason.  As well as an alternate place to live (your 15 year old boyfriends house is not going to fly)

Have you tried talking to your parents?