Will You Be Treated as a Runaway if You Move for College at Age 17

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Massachusetts
I’m 17 years old and I will be graduating high school in June 2018. I wanted to know if i would be considered a runaway if i go to college out of state against my mother’s wishes. My father lives in FL. The communication between him and my mother is DEAD. they are very stubborn people. she is also very controlling which is the reason behind most of this trouble. I wanted to go to college down there but of course she doesn’t agree with it. Truthfully i believe it is because I would be with my father. Can she call the police & tell them I ran away? Also, will they have to return me home? I understand I’m not an adult until 18, but I’ve done plenty of research and to my understanding I see that most police officers will not get involved with a 17 year old leaving home.. especially one that graduated high school & isn’t in danger and has never been in trouble with the law. Then again I’m not 100% sure so i’d greatly appreciate any help with this question.

When will you be 18?

May 15 2019. When i graduate I will be 17.

I graduated at 17 too, but I turned 18 a month later. So right now you're 16?

Yes i am 16 right now. I said 17 because that will be the situation when i graduate. I won’t be turning 18 for basically another year. I will just have turned 17 May 15 ( of this year )

If your mother has legal custody and reports you as a runaway, you will be treated as a runaway. If she allows you to move and actively support you in the move, then you will not. If reported as a runaway, or a minor left without apparent support or protection, the police will have no real choice in how they deal with you.

You can always look into the possibility of legal emancipation if that is an option in your state. But, emancipation is rarely granted, and generally reserved for children who are already in their own for reasons not of their own making.

Sounds like you might need to have a serious sit-down and heart to heart with mom about your plans after graduation. What does SHE want you to do?

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Quoting honeyyxx

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Yes i am 16 right now. I said 17 because that will be the situation when i graduate. I won’t be turning 18 for basically another year. I will just have turned 17 May 15 ( of this year )

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If your father is willing to commit to supporting you and paying for your college, maybe he should be filing for custody so you can go to college in Florida.

Otherwise you can pretty much forget it and stay put and behave yourself just like we tell every unhappy teenager who thinks the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

I’ve asked plenty of sometimes why is she holding me back from going to college out of state and what’s the big deal? She has yet to answer and has no real reason on why she’s doing so.

Well, she really does not NEED a reason to decline to allow you to leave the state or even go to college as a minor. There are a number of legitimate reasons to be reluctant.

I currently work at a major university and one of the most serious challenges we have are underage students. A lack of world experience and maturity can and does lead to many incidents that are concerning, to say the least. Even young adults ages 18 and older are not always prepared to cope with the stresses that can come about from living out of state and attending a university away from home or immediate family support.

But, even if she has no good reason, she can still say, "No," and there's not a thing you can do about it until you turn 18, are emancipated, or your father gets custody somehow and permits it.

I am in the OP's state and emancipation is pretty much a no-starter around here. Particularly not on the basis of, "She won't let me go to college where I want to go". This state has some of the world's best universities - I work for one - the attitude would be, So enroll in college in-state and transfer later.