What Would Happen If I Ran Away And Then Got Emancipated?

**MaddytheHippie** · 04-06-2008, 11:07 PM

I'm 14 years old (15 at the end of April). This is hard to say but I've been abused by my mom since I was 6 years old. I recently contacted DSS and a worker came over here to investigate and I told her EVERYTHING but then that night my mom choked me REALLY BAD so I called my sister and told her and she called 911. And they just let it go. But then the next day the same DSS worker came over and talked to my mom and my nephews (because they live with us also) and some how my mom convinced the worker that she's not hurting us!!! It's a lie tho I don't know how she does it but she's good. And I have so many problems from this I have depression I cut myself and I think I might have anxiety. And I also homeschool but I don't get a good education at all!!! I don't learn a thing!! Well one night I convinced my mom that she should let me go stay with my other sister in Texas for the summer (and plan on after that trying to live there) and she said yes!!! Well now she backed out and said no and I said that I'd get emancipated if she said no. And in South Dakota u can be 14 to get emancipated. But I'm not living with my sister right now so I don't know if they would let me get emancipated

Does anyone know if they would let me still since my sister would take me in and my mom is abusive???So my sister said to get a bus ticket and come down after my birthday and she would pay for half of it. And I read on a website if u runaway and your parents call the police and they find you but they see that your living in a good home and you want to stay that they'll let you live there. Is that true?? Also if I take a bus down to Texas I then want to get emancipated because then I'll be living with her so they would let me get emancipated right?? I really NEED some awnsers and HELP PLEASE!!! I don't know what to do I've almost commited suicide 3 times. If I have to live here for 3 more years I know I'll end up killing myself and I REALLY DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN

Oh and I've called the child abuse hotline they just give u a number to your county and I've already tried that and they do NOTHING!!! I've had soooo many people call and report my mom until they finally came over but even then they did absolutally NOTHING. PLEASE HELP ME!!

Love,
Maddy

**aardvarc** · 04-06-2008, 11:24 PM

What you're talking about is a change of guardianship - not emancipation. Emancipation isn't about getting out of an abusive situation - it is intended for youth who for a variety of reasons (like sick, disabled, hospitalized, or deceased parents) are already independently supporting themselves (they have jobs and are paying for their own food, rent, transportation, healthcare, etc.) and need additional legal abilities to do things like sign leases, open checking accounts, and the like in order to be able to do so better. Going to live with your sister might be a great idea, particularly if your mom might be willing to go along with it - but that is a guardianship issue. Have your sister contact DSS in your county and discuss this possibility and the process. And DO keep reporting any physical abuse - even if nothing has been done yet. Sometimes "the system" can be stubborn and slow to act, but don't let that frustrate you into not reporting - 911 is your friend.

(But no court anywhere is going to emancipate a minor with runaway issues or attempts to change things with suicide threats - courts are only going to consider emancipation for those who really have things "together", not who are on the verge of falling apart.)

**MaddytheHippie** · 04-07-2008, 12:02 AM

Well she hasn't hurt me since the choking"incedent" but that's because she knows what I'll do now. But I still NEED to get out of here. I can't live here and not get an education and the atmosphere just isn't good here. What would they say to my sister if she called them??? And could I still runaway and they let me live with her seeing that I'm in a better home?? And I don't know if my sister could go to court up here seeing as she lives in Texas and needs to save her money for college tuition. I just need to leave here it's kind of frighting

Love,
Maddy

**FlyinHawk®** · 04-07-2008, 12:14 AM

If you run away you will get in trouble, as will your sister.

When your mother choked you did you go to the hospital, did they markings to back up that is what happened?

If your sister wants to try and gain guardianship of you, She will have to do it, not you. If her little sister is being abused and she is worried for her I am sure that college tuition can wait.

You cannot runaway you will make the situation ten times worse.

**MaddytheHippie** · 04-07-2008, 12:20 AM

I don't think my sister would get in trouble since I was the one who ran away. I didn't go to the hospital and it was just red. Yes that's true but my sister also doesn't like getting in the middle of things or on our mom's bad side. I really don't see how running away would make it ten times worse at least I would be getting out of here.

Love,
Maddy

**FlyinHawk®** · 04-07-2008, 12:36 AM

If you run away, you will get in trouble and be sent back home. If you run away to your sister and she allows you to stay with her she gets charged with Harboring a run away.

You may think running away wont make things worse but do you really want to get your sister in trouble?