Can I Move Out

[Lila]

My question involves emancipation laws for the State of: Missouri

Im 17 and my mom has dropped me from school to get my GED. I lived in missouri with my mom but she has sent me to arkansas to stay with my aunt until i get my GED. My mom still has custody of me in missouri but im in arkansas. Arkansas doesnt have a 17 law like missouri does. If i leave with out my aunt's permission to live with my boy friend's mom's friend in missouri, will i get in trouble? When i get to missouri does that mean i go by the 17 law at that time? I've been here for three months and have only been home once. When i get to missouri i want to go back to school next school year and get all my credits and graduate.

Any help is very much appreciated.

[mamabear2102003]

I'm going to address this question from a 'parent' POV rather than a legal (there are many that know much more than I do on here) and ask you to stick it out until you're 18. If you're currently 17, you don't have that much longer to go. Why did your mom take you out of school?

Emancipation, at least up here, means that you are ready, willing and ABLE to fully support yourself (mentally, physically and financially). Since you are still under age, and haven't said that you would have a full time job, capable of paying your bills on your own, I wouldn't qualify this as emancipation, but a change in guardianship (custody). Life isn't always easy as a teen, but as an adult it's even more difficult. Take some time to figure out WHY you want to do this.

[cbg]

Emancipation means that in all states. And there is no "17 law" in Missouri, either, if by that you mean that you can move out at 17 and no one can touch you. I will grant that in Missouri, a poorly written law makes it difficult for the police to force you home at 17 but do not make the mistake of thinking that it cannot be done at all. The age of majority is 18 in Missouri just as it is everywhere else in the US. That means that until you are 18, no matter what state you are in, you live where your mother says you live.

[Lila]

okayy. thank you very much.. i guess ill just stick out for another 4months.

[aardvarc]

Even if the law was clear and you easily met all the requirements, the process with it's hearings, evaluations, etc. would take about that long anyway.