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Can the police force me back to my home at 17 if I leave or would it be a better idea to try to get emancipated?
Anonymous5 views4 answers
So I am a 16 year old female living in the state of Texas with my parents. Due to things they've done which aren't technically illegal on their part (so it's not like it would help me in court) I would really like to move out. I'm not planning on doing it till I am 17 but I'm not sure if I legally can and can't afford to get in trouble legally because, with the career I plan on going into I have to have a squeaky clean record. I would plan on staying with close friends or family if I left and if I could not stay with them I heard it is legal to leave and get an apartment or something as long as you are paying your own bills.
Police in this area will likely make you return home if your parents call them when you leave. Additionally, the emancipation process can be lengthy, and at 16, it's unlikely you have the financial resources to retain an attorney to do it for you. If your parents are doing things that are harmful to your physical or emotional well-being, you definitely have some options, and you might begin with talking to a school counselor, pastor, or other adult whom you trust. If it's that they're doing really dreadful things like making you clean your room, pay for your own gas in your car, or be in by curfew, you might want to stop whining and appreciate that you have parents who care enough about you to set limits and are trying to teach you how to be a responsible adult.
You are best advised to stay home until 18 if you need and want a "squeaky clean record" as that is your best option for that. Go see a school counselor and/or ask your parents to talk to a private counselor through health insurance before you do anything. They can give you referrals to resources to guide you. Emancipation or removal of disabilities usually at age 17 but possible at age 16 is difficult at best and probably unlikely. You will have some confidentiality with some counselors with whom you speak. That would be the best thing for you to do.
Yes, the police can force you to go back home and yes, this can turn into a big deal.
Google "emancipation of a minor in Texas". There are no other loopholes.
It depends on the police department. The Attorney General wrote an opinion letter which said that the police departments don't have to go after you, but they can. It is a crime for a non-relative to harbor a runaway though. The potential for problems is so great for a 17 year old broke girl on her own, why chance it? There is a whole group of bottom feeders that do nothing but prey on young runaways. It isn't all puppies and candy. Get your parents to pay for some test prep for SATs, ACTs or whatever they are using these days, and study, take some AP classes, or classes that will give you joint high school and college credit. Lay the groundwork now for independence for the rest of your life,
