Can You Run Away from Home at Age 17 in Virginia

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Virginia

Hello I have some very important questions about moving out at the age of 17, anyone who can help me I am beyond thankful for.
Currently I am 16, I will be 17 in five months. I want to move out when I turn 17, I have been to court too many times over what parent gets me and so I would rather not go through emancipation. My father (Not biological, just signed the BC) stood up in court the last time we went and told the judge I was not allowed in his house nor did he want custody of me, but he does still have his rights. So now I am living with my mother,her boyfriend, and his son who is 20. I don't exactly have a bad life and im not going to pretend that I do,but a lot going on is just so uncalled for. My mothers boyfriend and his son treat her like crap, i'm talking calling her names, putting her down, and never doing a thing for her. I already told her I have had enough of seeing her being treated like crap, and asked her to chose me or him. Well she chose him, she had me fill out a bunch of apartment applications and get everything ready just to later tell me that she is not going to leave him. Also, she has kept me out of school, I missed more than half of my 10th grade year so she took me out and put me in online school, well now before I could even start anything she stopped paying for it. Well now she is trying to force me to go get my GED because she don't want to pay 58$ a month for my diploma, and if she cant pay for online school what makes me think she would pay for GED classes? She has honestly screwed up my entire education. I have two job offers, and my brother wants to get an apartment with me and we will split the payments. I herd that I can move out at 17 and she wouldn't be able to report me as a runaway or anything to the cops as long as she knew where I was located. Someone please just help me, I want to get my life together and grow up to be someone. Thanks for the help!
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No you cannot run away at 17. Call CS and advise them mom is not providing school for you. Unless it falls under a state law she can do so at 16, they will tell her to get you enrolled.

If you take off and mom knows where you are, she can send the cops to come get you, or she can come get you herself and the cops can help her. And, anyone whop knowingly aids you in remaining out of your parents' control can face criminal charges all their own.

Wait another year before you take off. Until then, if mom is not providing for your education, then you should do as suggested and report her to the school district or child services.

Is there a public high school in your area and if so, how is she preventing you from attending?

There is a public High School, as stated above she kept me out of school, and then took me out of the school.

When I talked to a lawyer they told me as long as she knew where I was the cops would not do anything about it, I am not trying to run away, I just want info on if I can leave at 17. I plan oon talking to her about it but if she disagrees I want to know my options.

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Quoting PurpleDragon01

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There is a public High School, as stated above she kept me out of school, and then took me out of the school.

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The school, police, and/or child services will take issue with her intentionally making you a truant.

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When I talked to a lawyer they told me as long as she knew where I was the cops would not do anything about it, I am not trying to run away, I just want info on if I can leave at 17. I plan oon talking to her about it but if she disagrees I want to know my options.

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The attorney is almost certainly incorrect. And even if the local police won't drag you back home, mom can, and she can have anyone keeping you from her charged with a crime. Unless you want to leave a trail of angry associates with new criminal records, this is a baaaad idea!

Oh, and while you are a runaway, there will still be no school, except that instead of HER getting into trouble, it'll be you.

Oh, and you might want to read the atual LAW:

§ 16.1-246. When and how child may be taken into immediate custody.

No child may be taken into immediate custody except:

A. With a detention order issued by the judge, the intake officer or the clerk, when authorized by the judge, of the juvenile and domestic relations district court in accordance with the provisions of this law or with a warrant issued by a magistrate; or

B. When a child is alleged to be in need of services or supervision and (i) there is a clear and substantial danger to the child's life or health or (ii) the assumption of custody is necessary to ensure the child's appearance before the court; or

C. When, in the presence of the officer who makes the arrest, a child has committed an act designated a crime under the law of this Commonwealth, or an ordinance of any city, county, town or service district, or under federal law and the officer believes that such is necessary for the protection of the public interest; or

C1. When a child has committed a misdemeanor offense involving (i) shoplifting in violation of § 18.2-103, (ii) assault and battery or (iii) carrying a weapon on school property in violation of § 18.2-308.1 and, although the offense was not committed in the presence of the officer who makes the arrest, the arrest is based on probable cause on reasonable complaint of a person who observed the alleged offense; or

D. When there is probable cause to believe that a child has committed an offense which if committed by an adult would be a felony; or

E. When a law-enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that a person committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice as a child has run away or that a child has escaped from a jail or detention home; or

F. When a law-enforcement officer has probable cause to believe a child has run away from a residential, child-caring facility or home in which he had been placed by the court, the local department of social services or a licensed child welfare agency; or

G. When a law-enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that a child (i) has run away from home or (ii) is without adult supervision at such hours of the night and under such circumstances that the law-enforcement officer reasonably concludes that there is a clear and substantial danger to the child's welfare; or

H. When a child is believed to be in need of inpatient treatment for mental illness as provided in § 16.1-340.

I said I wasn't running away so there for I would not be a runaway, I also stated above that I would be talking to my mother about leaving and living on my own with my brother.

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Quoting PurpleDragon01

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I said I wasn't running away so there for I would not be a runaway, I also stated above that I would be talking to my mother about leaving and living on my own with my brother.

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unless your mother gives you permission to leave, you would be a runaway. If your mother gave you permission to stay with somebody else, you would have no reason to ask the questions here you have. Your mother can allow you to live somewhere other than her home. She is not obligated to do so though.

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Quoting PurpleDragon01

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I said I wasn't running away so there for I would not be a runaway, I also stated above that I would be talking to my mother about leaving and living on my own with my brother.

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If you mom gives you permission to stay somewhere, then that's great. But, if you leave without her permission - that's running away.