Q: Can I move out without my mother’s consent at 17?
I am almost 17 and I’m graduating this year, a year early. I want to move in with my uncle after I graduate but my mom won’t let me. My dad is fine with it but I live with my mom and she has legal custody of us. I live in Oregon. Is there anyway I can move out without her consent and without getting emancipated?
A:
Technically you are a minor with no legal rights until you turn 18. If your uncle facilitates your moving without the consent of your custodial parent he can be charged with the crime of custodial interference. If you leave on your own accords, and stay out of trouble, it is unlikely that the police will drag you home. But as stated before, neither your Uncle nor any other adult can legally help you.
Frankly if you are just now graduating from high school you need to focus on getting some type of additional education. You better look into your options for going to college. If there is a college that requires you to move away from home your parents would most likely be supportive of that.
You can't simply petition to be emancipated and it happens. It is an uphill batter to convince a Judge that you are already acting like an adult and supporting yourself. It is also you jumping into adulthood with all the negatives that come with the freedom. So by the time you get through the court system with this plan you will probably be 18 anyway. Just chill and get your plan for your adult life in order. Focus on school or some type of job training. You will have the rest of your life to be an adult - it's just one more year. Recognizing the wisdom of staying put is part of being an adult. It would be a mature adult decision.
Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer
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