Can a Sixteen Year Old Run Away from Home

[Keira]

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: South Carolina
Alright so my friend has been asking me to look some stuff up for him and nothing is giving me a straight answer. He wants to know if he can move out now if he has a place to stay with someone willing to support him? He lives in South Carolina and we know the law about a 17 year old being able to move but what about if he'll be 17 in 4 months? He wants to move to California now because his girlfriend is having their baby (in 2 months) which he doesn't want to miss and he wants to be able to support her financially as she attends school and emotionally, as well as their daughter. He lives with his father now and is severely neglected and emotionally, sometimes physically abused. He doesn't want to go for emancipation because the process is too long and his whole point is to get out to California before his daughter is born. He's willing to get his GED and work full time to support himself but he's worried about his friend (who is attending college) getting into trouble before he turns 17. Please help with finding an answer to this, i just want to help a friend get out of a volatile situation and be able to raise his family.

[Disagreeable]

When he is 18, he is free to move. Fatherhood is proof he needs more parental supervision, not less. No court would emancipate him so he can get laid every night. He can get a job and support his child from SC.

[Keira]

He has a job but his father refuses to let him send any money, is there anything he can do about this?

[Dogmatique]

Couple of things.

1. He would not qualify for emancipation in any state.

2. I think you're both getting mixed up. A 17 year old can still be brought back home after "moving out". The 17 year old generally CAN move out if that 17 year old can support himself.

3. If Mom isn't getting child support, that's on her.

4. For all intents and purposes you can be treated as an adult at 17. Except in family law. It's true that at 17 the police might not force the issue, but the bottom line is it's still generally going to be up to the parents.

[Disagreeable]

His girlfriend can obtain a support order.

He has a job but his father refuses to let him send any money, is there anything he can do about this?

[cbg]

I'll give you a straight answer.

No. Unless he has parental permission, he cannot move out until he is 18.

[Dogmatique]

One other thing.

If he leaves to go and play house with his girlfriend, that could easily become a federal issue. Crossing state lines and all.

This is not scaremongering by the way but both of you could end up in trouble....and without your child.