Running Away Shortly Before Your 18th Birthday

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Florida. Ok, so my mom wants to move to NC, but i dont want to go. She said she might move after my birthday, which i will be 18 by then. But problem is, even when i turn 18 she wont let me leave the house. Can she do that legally? Also, If she can't move after i turn 18, can i move into my sisters house? She's over 18 and she has her own place and can take good care of me. But i dont know if i can move out before my birthday or not and i dont want to get in trouble with the law. Please help me! Ive been telling her that as soon as im 18, im moving out, but she won't listen. And i really don't want to move up to NC. It seemed like the perfect time to ask this. Any help is appreciated. Ive heard police wont make you go back if Im close to being 18, but id rather ask than go ahead and get in trouble. Thank you so much.

Once you turn 18, you are free to live wherever the heck you want.

You can't hang in there for 2 weeks?

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Quoting stoneheart23

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But problem is, even when i turn 18 she wont let me leave the house. Can she do that legally?

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This is an imaginary situation where you move with your mom to North Carolina, then she grounds you? There's an element of "her house, her rules", but unless she's chaining you up in the basement once you turn 18 you are free to walk out and find your own place to live.

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Quoting stoneheart23

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My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Florida. Ok, so my mom wants to move to NC, but i dont want to go. She said she might move after my birthday, which i will be 18 by then. But problem is, even when i turn 18 she wont let me leave the house. Can she do that legally?

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No, she cannot stop you from leaving her house once you are 18.

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Also, If she can't move after i turn 18, can i move into my sisters house? She's over 18 and she has her own place and can take good care of me

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It doesn't matter if your sister can take care of you or not, once you turn 18, you can live wherever you like.

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But i dont know if i can move out before my birthday or not and i dont want to get in trouble with the law. Please help me! Ive been telling her that as soon as im 18, im moving out, but she won't listen. And i really don't want to move up to NC. It seemed like the perfect time to ask this. Any help is appreciated. Ive heard police wont make you go back if Im close to being 18, but id rather ask than go ahead and get in trouble. Thank you so much.

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Someone else said it was two weeks until your 18th birthday but please clarify just how long it will be until you turn 18.

I will be turning 18 in 2 weeks. My mom wants to move as soon as possible, which might be before my 18th birthday. I've heard that they can't file a report if you're that close to your birthday, but is it true? That's what I'm scared of. I don't want to get arrested for that. Can i move out if I'm a few days away from my birthday? Its urgent that i move before she leaves. Otherwise, i won't be able to move in with my sister since she lives in Florida and my mom will be moving so far away.

No, it is not true that they CAN'T file a report. They may or may not bother, but they most certainly CAN.

The first day you can move out and have it be absolutely certain that no one can drag you back is your 18th birthday. As long as you are even one minute under 18, you live where your mother says you live. Law enforcement may or may not participate in bringing you back home but that will be by choice, not because they are prevented by law. And your mother can drag you home whether they are willing to do so or not.

How are you going to take care of yourself? Do you have a job? Or you still in school? Once you turn 18 it isn't your mother's responsibility to care for you? It also isn't your sisters either

I am currently looking for a job and i have everything planned for my future. As for school and jobs, yes. I have supportive family members, friends and boyfriend

Ditto what the others are saying - until you are 18, your parent/legal guardian has almost all the say over where you go and what you do.

And, as one who deals with teens all the time and the father of three who are now over 18 and one that will be in a few years, I have to say that the two oldest who have moved out said the same things you did - that they had it handled. Ironically, both of them still rely on mom and dad for things like medical insurance, car insurance, new tires for the car, auto repairs, grocery infusions, co-signing for rental agreements, pay for cell phone plans, books for school (tuition is covered by scholarships and waivers for the most part), and they still have to try and work as many hours as they can. Stoneheart, it is not as easy as you might think it is. And unless sissy and boyfriend are independently wealthy, they are not going to be able to provide much help to you. And, if they do, and you become dependent upon that aid, then they will control you - be especially wary if it is the BF that tells you he'll take care of you and keeps you from getting your own place or supporting yourself ... if I had a dollar for everyone of those relationships that went south in a bad way, I'd be rich!

Now, be honest, the REAL reason you want to stick around is the boyfriend, right?

Oh for heaven's sake, go with Mom, and then fly to your sister's.

Seriously.

There is no emergency here at all. Hell, get your sister to buy the plane ticket.