Legal Reference Blog by Renee C. Walsh, Esq.

My daughter moved out 2 days after turning 17 to live with her 19 yr old boyfriend. This was also the day I had a ambulatory surgery done and I was half out of it when she left. She had been in her room talking to her bf's mom and her biol dad (who has seen her 3 times in 17 yrs) and they moved her out while I was laid up on my couch...There was nothing I could do...She told several lies to her father and continues to do so...what can I do? Shes very immature and I fear she will end up pregnant as this is what the bfriend wants her for...

My son does not get along with his mother at all. She has custody and I am fighting for custody in FOC. She is bipolar and refuses to take her medication which is the problem. He plans to run away at 17 to my house if we should lose custody do to the FOC always siding with the female. Is this legal? Can my ex or the courts do anything to stop it. I'm afraid he will run and live on the streets in another state if we cant do this. At least in my home he will be well cared for. He is a very good young man!

Hello
I turn 17 in about a mere 5 months, and I need help.
Does this mean that, at 17, I can runaway from my mother, who I do not get along with , to go to my father's house, who is perfectly capable of raising me? I would leave notes for my mother, and make photocopies and take pictures of there location in relation to the inside of my mother's house, as I know she would try to say she never had a note, therefore, I would not be “missing”, as my whereabouts are known? I know this may seem absurd, as you probably put this up to inform parents and help them out, but did it ever occur to you that with this, you could in turn help the troubled youth with no other way out? My parents are in the middle of a custody battle, with me staying at my mothers at the moment. Me and my dad both feel that he will win custody of me, but we have our doubts that it will occur before I am 17 years of age. I have good grades, because I have been seeing my dad, which has made me a more happy person, and I would join school again once I moved, and I haven’t committed any crimes, so I have nothing against me.
So, if you could let me know, I would greatly appreciate it. You can contact me through email at boogiediamondz@gmail.com.
Thank you for your time, patience and help.
It is greatly appreciated.
Signed,
A Youth In Need

Dear A. Huggard:

There is not much you can do as indicated in the article, the police will not likely pick her up. You could however report to the police that she has run away from your house to have a record of the event for future purposes.

She is at the age now where she is going to do what she wants and you are best served by trying to keep her close by showing her your unconditional love through being there when she needs you.

Sincerely,
Renee C. Walsh

Dear Mr. Kowalski and Son:

Until age 17, a mother such as yours who reports you as a runaway to the police will likely receive police assistance in finding you and bringing you home. Furthermore, a parent with a court order for custody that is being violated, can go to the FOC to get assistance in enforcing the court order.

Practically speaking, if a teenager age 16 moves to their father's house and the police become involved, the police should be informed of a parent who does not take medication and could become violent. If the teenager and non-custodial parent inform the police that the mother could endanger the teenager, then the police should not return the teenager to the mother and the non-custodial parent should remind the police that they could face liability if they put the son in danger. If the teenager is returned to the mother, such a teenager should request to the mother in front of the police to stay at the father's house due to the medication issue and their fear and to put pressure on the mother to agree.

If mom is not taking medication, an affidavit should be signed by a person with this knowledge. This should then be presented to the court in order to obtain an Ex-Parte Temporary Custody Order which can be sought and entered on an emergency basis.

Sincerely,

Renee C. Walsh

What will happen when I turn 17?

When you turn 17, your mother will be hard pressed to find any assistance if you move to your father's house. Typically, police do not go after 17-year-olds. If she attempted to take the matter to court, there would be little she could do. Your opinion as to whom you want to live with at age 16 and/or 17 is going to be heavily weighted by the courts. If you do not want to live with your mom, it is unlikely that you will be forced to when you have a father who wants you to live with him. It would be a very hard battle for your mother to win, especially considering her psychological history.

If you are doing well in school, if you have a job, if you don't drink or do drugs, and if you are keeping your parents informed of your activities, it is unlikely you will have trouble convincing people to listen.

Remember though that this is a blog and I am really discussing legal principals rather than giving specific advice. Since I do not know all the details of your situation, you should not rely on this information, but consider it in relation to your situation to make an informed decision.

I am a female who turns 17 May 4th. I want to move out of my house and live with my aunt but my mom says I can't do that until I'm 18. I tell her that I can. She says they'll just put me in "juvie". I just want to know if I can move out when I am 17 if I am still attending school and I have a job.

Alexis, the original article posted on this issue speaks directly to your question. Generally speaking, your mother will have a difficult time getting the police to do anything when you turn 17. Lawyers will tell her that at that age, she cannot kick you out and she cannot keep you home. Furthermore, you will not be sent to "juvie". Typically, if the police become involved, they merely assist the parent in returning the young adult to the home and do not press charges because there is nothing to charge. If you go to your aunt's house and your mother knows where you are, you are not a runaway and not breaking any law. (Of course if you are in the legal system already, such as on probation, such activity could constitute a violation of probation, which is another story.)

I am going to be 17 in less then a month. I have a 5 month old baby. Can I move out of my mother's house when I turn 17?

The gray area of the law is on your side if you choose to do this. Tell your mother what you are going to do and she will not be able to report you as a runaway. It is extremely unlikely that you would be forced by the police to stay with your mother against your will, being that you are a woman and a mother yourself, you have informed your own mother where you are going to be, and you have adequate shelter and support.

Hi I'm going to be 17 on sept 8th i want to know if i can move out when I turn 17 and live with my bf couse i dont get along with my parents is the law any different couse i'm adoptive?

I am turning 17 on March 18. I am looking at leaving my home for a few days, maybe a week or so, to get out of my home. My mother and I rarely get along. She seems uninterested in anything I have to say. She tells me I need "help" when all I need is a mother who will talk with me, teach me and give me advice rather than tell me I am wrong all the time. I am also a middle-child, with an 18 year old gap between my eldest brother and youngest sister. Each of us have different fathers. My mom got pregnant with my brother at 15, and never married his father. My real father lives about 3 1/2 hours away and is an alcoholic, so living with him is out of the question. I want to stay with a friend, and possibly my boyfriend of almost 3 years who is 20. Could I legally leave for a few days/week and return myself, without legal assistance? Can my parents call the authorities on my boyfriend, although they love him. Could he be held responsible?

Dear Nikki:

If you let your mom know where you are going, you have the law on your side if you choose to leave. She will not be able to report you missing because she knows where you are.

Whether your boyfriend could be held responsible for anything would be dependent on what is said to the police. If you insist that your boyfriend has nothing to do with your decisions, and is not to blame, then he should be alright.

The safest measure when dealing with the police is to tell them you want an attorney. Once you say you want an attorney they are not allowed to ask you additional questions unless you recommence the conversation. Often the police do not have a case until they speak with the "victim" or "suspect" and they let the cat out of the bag so to speak.

Dear Mallorie:

The law is not any different because you are adopted. Please refer to prior comments for additional information. Continue your efforts to communicate with your mother as that is the only way things will ever improve.

I am going to 17 in a month. I want to live with my aunt who is 29 years old and capable of raising me. My mother says that I can't move in with her. Can I move in with her when I turn 17?

I provide the same information to you as to all others.
The gray area of the law is on your side if you choose to do this. At age 17, according to legal definitions, you are not a minor, nor a child, nor a juvenile.

Tell your mother what you are going to do and she will not be able to report you as a runaway. It is extremely unlikely that you would be forced by the police to stay with your mother against your will, being that you are 17, you have informed your own mother where you are going to be, and you have adequate shelter and support.

I am a 17-year-old female. I go to school and am involved in many activities and have never been in trouble with the law. I have wanted to move out of my house for a while. My dad passed away a year ago due to an accident at work and ever since then my mom has not been the same. She yells all the time and accuses me of doing things I'm not. She makes me do everything around the house, while she and my sister do nothing. I've been dating my boyfriend for 2 years now. His family loves me. They know that I'm having troubles at home, and would allow me to live with them. Now I got into a fight with my mom the other day and I went to leave. She threatened to call the police and put my boyfriend in jail because I am staying there. Could this happen? Will my mother's social security for my sister and I because of my father's passing be affected if I leave.

No, it does not work the way your mother is threatening. It sounds like she is having a serious problem coping with your father's death. If it is as bad as you convey, then if you were ever confronted by the police, your argument would be that you had to protect yourself from that harmful environment.

If your mother knows where you are, you are not a runaway. Your boyfriend is not doing anything illegal at all and his parents are not doing anything illegal by allowing you to stay there.

The Social Security benefits are for your care. If your mother is still responsible for caring for you, she will continue to receive benefits.

Sorry I am going to ask the same thing as some of the others but I just want to make things clear on my behalf. I don't want to get my boyfriend and his parents in ANY sort of trouble. My mother left me at age 9. I was sent to my grandmothers and they made me leave at 16. I live with my father now. I've been horribly stressed by him and people feel SORRY for me having to deal with him. He takes pills that increase testosterone. Anyone who knew him before that thinks that is insane because he was hard to deal with then, let alone now. I end up in tears almost every night. I'm not allowed to do ANYTHING. He won't even allow me off my block or to the mall with friends. The parents of my boyfriend of about a year have said they want me to live with them and do not mind supporting me until I am 18 at least. I'm afraid my dad will go crazy and get the police and legal process involved. I don't want anyone in trouble. I'm a nice person and just want a normal life. I heard that if he does take legal measures its almost a waste of time because it takes a while and I'll be 18 by the time they get through court. Help me please. Yours truly, Tiffany.

I would give you the same information as I have given to others asking similar questions. If you let your father know where you are going to be, it is unlikely that the police will get involved. If you are 17, it is unlikely they will come get you.

You should consider documenting the things that he does to you which you find not to be in your best interests. These can be used in a later petition, such as a petition for emancipation.

Your father cannot physically restrain you or put his hands on you if you want to leave. If he does do so, you should call the police.

One can never guarantee anything when fallible and excitable humans are involved, however, It is not a crime to help a teenager in need. Your boyfriend's parents should not get in any legal trouble and know to anticipate some trouble if they know about your father and your situation.

I found this very interesting. I was just wondering if I was going to move out at 17 and live in a friends apartment could I or my friend be punished by the law. I will inform my mom of my whereabouts. I have a job and so does my friend and another person who is staying at the apartment so we have income.

Thanks.

The answer is the same. "Punished by the law" is vague, but I would not anticipate punishment. The police just do not interfere where a 17 year old leaves his parent, especially if he informs the parent where he is and if he is employed.

Hi,
I know that there are a lot of similar situations already posted on this blog, but I just wanted to make sure that what I've heard and what's on here still holds true in Michigan.

I'm turning 17 in less than two months. I am a straight A student, I take advanced classes, I play tennis, dance, and I am the president of my schools Model United Nations club. Basically, I'm a good kid and I care about my future.

My mom and I fight almost every day when I get home from school, however, and while I know she probably has good intentions, my already stressful life has become almost unbearable and my home is no longer a nurturing environment.

My mom has hacked into my facebook account and my myspace accounts, read my diary, and drug tests me and breathalizes me regularly, even though I've never had an encounter with the law and I don't abuse alcohol or drugs.

I was wondering if, when I turn 17 and the situation hasn't improved, if I could get a job and move in with my two friends' apartment without being arrested or taken to court.

I'm sorry, also, for telling you my life story but I really have no one to discuss this with that would know anything about it at all. I just heard you could move out when you were 17 today.

Yes. The law applies to you as well.

If a 16 year old girl was in a fight with her parents and wanted to move into her boyfriends house, who lives an hour and half away in the same state, would this be possible? His parents love me very much and said they would let me live with them but they are afraid of the law and what would happen.

At age 16, you are going to have more trouble than at age 17. Staying in the house until at least age 17 is a consideration for you because both you and your boyfriend's parents could indeed have some trouble with the law.

Hi, My name is Paige, im about to be 17 in 5 months, i live with both my parents. i get along with my dad great, but my mother is the worst. we have had a lot of problems with eachother since i was little and i know if i move out at 17 she will phisycally try and stop me, but im a slave in my house, i do everything and my older brother does nothing and is considerd an angel, i just want to leave. i have been dateing my boyfriend for almost 2 yrs. i dont have a job and i do okay in school, i have been introuble with the law, but its not on my record, if i moved out at 17 would there be anything my partents could do to stop me?

Dear Paige:

Your situation is not distinct from the others indicated on the site. Read through the comments and you will find your answers.

Good luck.

I was wondering since i will be 17 in 7 months if i would get into trouble for moving out and staying with my boyfriend and his family. there would be a roof over my head and i would be fed when i am hungry. i live with my mom and her boyfriend but i dont like it. would i be able to tell them where im going without the cops being involved. or if they called the cops would the cops come to get me and would i have to come back and live with my mom? i do not want to live with my father so that is not an option.

Dear Ashley:

Your situation is not distinct from the others indicated on the site. Read through the comments and you will find your answers.

Good luck.

My step daughter is turning 17 next month and we've had physical custody of her since 3/07 after her mother kicked her out. She was involved with an arson case last summer while at her friends' house and the charges were later dropped in the 2 girls claiming it was an accident, and now she is in trouble with a pending shop lifting case and she's heavily into drugs and alcohol. She's been grounded since March of 2008 for the shop lifting and a few weeks ago she got 2 bottles of wine from a girl at school and brought them home, I found them in her room while doing her laundry. When confronted with her smoking/drug use/drinking, she literally tries to attack either me or my husband and tells us she can do whatever she wants to do and no one has any control over her. Then she tells us we can't touch her wrist as we try to restain her from hitting us in the face, because she comes after us so fast, she tries to punch us and has been sucessful in hitting me in the lip and mouth and tried to choke my husband. We dont' touch her unless we have to restain her from hurting us. She's been caught stealing money out of my husband's wallet, my purse and she intentionally breaks things (dishes, glasses, mirrors, picture frames, kicks through walls, ripped the sofa) in our house because she says its "what you deserve for ruining my life". My husband and I need some advice as to what to do. She has refused counseling and tells us that she's this way because I'm an evil witch of a step mother and I've only tried to support her & help her out over the last 9 years. She says she's going to leave as soon as she turns 18 but this cant' continue to go on in the house for another year. Mom refuses to speak to her and wants nothing to do with her either.

My daughter is 16 and ran away Friday, June 13. The police have been little help. I know who she is with but since "she's not in any known danger", they will not activly search. A friend knows where she is and isn't willing to give the information to the police or her parents. I'm lost and know nothing else to do other than sit and wait. We went looking, but nothing. I love my daughter, and all I want is for her to come home. For the kids lloking to move out at 17, unless your parents are abusing you, it will cause a lot of pain for your parents. I haven't ever felt this much hurt in my life. I did leave at 17, but that was after a broken nose, dislocated shoulder, and so on. I did let family know where I was an that I was safe. So please re-think your decision first.

Dear S. Page:

You might consider hiring a private investigator.

Dear Lydija:

From a legal standpoint, you and your husband could get the police and courts involved. Once in the juvenile system, she will be forced to get certain social services which could be of benefit to her. Contact your local police department and tell them your situation. You certainly have a right to protect yourself from further violence and in doing so would likely benefit her in the future. Furthermore, such a contact would lay a foundation should she attempt to say you and her father attacked her.

Hi my name is Domenica. I'm 17 and pregnant of 2 in a half months. My parents are both very strict parents, and if I tell them that I'm having a baby, they would try to make me get an abortion, which I don't want to do. They are not the type of parents who would sit and talk and listen to me, or what I got to say. I'm always stuck at home doing nothing because they don't let me go out or do anything. I feel like I'm stuck in a cage all day. I never had the feeling of being a normal teenager, and never enjoyed being one and hanging out with friends. I hardly have any friends cause I cant go out. I'm sick of living this boring life. My boyfriend that I been dating for a year. His mom said I can live with her and she will help with the baby and everything. I know I wont be able to tell my parents face to face where I'm going or that I am leaving, but will it be the same if I left a note saying that I will be safe and where I will be at?

Dear Domenica:

You are 17 and nearly an adult. As I have indicated in prior posts, the police typically do not assist parents in trying to pick up persons of your age who leave the home. If you inform your parents of where you are going and that you are not in danger, they will not be able to truthfully say to the police that you are a runaway in danger. Consider also putting the information in a letter to your parents and sending a copy to another adult whom you trust. It is very unlikely that your boyfriend's mother would be in trouble for assisting you under the circumstances.

I am 17 and 7 months, my mom and i rarely get along, i recently told her how i felt about her and how she treats people. Her boyfriend and i both feel that she doesnt give me enough freedom and doesnt treat me like much of an adult. My boyfriend and i have been dating for almost 2 years and have been talking about moving out together for a long time now. We recently looked at apartments and found one we liked. i would still go to school and graduate, that is something important to me. I have a job and he has two of them so we would be able to support ourselves just fine. although you have said numerous times that the police would rarely get involved, i am still worried that if i were to move into this apartment with my boyfriend at 17 and 7 months the police would make me go home or take me to juvi, i am also worried that it could go further than that. i dont want to be taken to court or be sent to a foster home. I know that i am so stresses out in this environment that i resort to punching things, and hurting myself. My boyfriend cares about me and doesnt like the situation i am in either. I DO know that i feel 100% happy and at ease when i am with my boyfriend and i know that moving out with him would work out just fine. I dont want to hurt my mom, i DO love her but i cant handle the way things are any more. I need advice!!!!!

Dear TLS:

I cannot predict what the police would do, but can only give you probabilities. As I have posted in the past, the police do not typically get involved. Furthermore, even if the police were to get involved, it is likely you would merely be taken home and especially if you have no juvenile record.

ive just gotta say...you've been very helpful to me, as far as reinforcing the fact that i can move out of my parents home in MI when i turn 17 in feb. , and theres nothing they can do about it... Im sure you were not intending to help my "situation" like this, but i was already aware of this before i read this.
I have a a lot of friends who moved out of their parents home at age 17, and they told me the details:
like one of them, their parents called the cops and reported them as a runaway, but when the parents told the police department how old she was (17) they pretty much informed them that legally there was nothing they could do about it, since (like you said) she left parents home voluntarily..

I need to escape my mothers grasp, because she is an over controlling freak , a compulsive liar, and treats me like im insane or immature which im not.

She makes these judgments on how i act around her, i used to have an extreme anger problem, and whenever im around her it just seems to come back out. I was just forced to move back in with her after an unfortunate encounter with police officers
(nothing that serious, i was drunk) when i was living with my cousin for about a year in Grand Rapids, and it really helped me mature a lot, and get rid of my anger problem. I know how to function in society, i do not flip out at the drop of a hat on my friends or people in the "real world" in general...yet , in my mothers presence i cannot control it, so i feel like if i stay here my maturity level will end up going backwards..

so, in feb.(when i turn 17) im getting out of my mother's / stepfather's house and im moving into a house with 5 of my friends in Grand Rapids.
(it makes paying the rent a lot easier with this many people or more in a 2-4 bedroom house, because we all have jobs so we split it up equally)

ive had a few jobs since i was 14 and i have saved a lot of my money and only took a little bit of spending money every paycheck, mostly just for cigarettes and...whatever else, but im quitting smoking now, so i can save a lot more before feb.
Ive been saving for this "moving out" thing, community college, and a vehicle....

all in all, i truly feel like i can do all of this, and it will satisfy me so much, to prove my mother wrong about how mature i am, and show her that i can take care of myself and i do not need her (financially speaking).

Dont get me wrong, i have unconditional love for my family, but we are extremely different in too many ways and its impossible for me to get along with them..

wow...i just realized i gave you part of my life story...sorry about that...

thank you though..

ive just gotta say...you've been very helpful to me, as far as reinforcing the fact that i can move out of my parents home in MI when i turn 17 in feb. , and theres nothing they can do about it... Im sure you were not intending to help my "situation" like this, but i was already aware of this before i read this.
I have a a lot of friends who moved out of their parents home at age 17, and they told me the details:
like one of them, their parents called the cops and reported them as a runaway, but when the parents told the police department how old she was (17) they pretty much informed them that legally there was nothing they could do about it, since (like you said) she left parents home voluntarily..

I need to escape my mothers grasp, because she is an over controlling freak , a compulsive liar, and treats me like im insane or immature which im not.

She makes these judgments on how i act around her, i used to have an extreme anger problem, and whenever im around her it just seems to come back out. I was just forced to move back in with her after an unfortunate encounter with police officers
(nothing that serious, i was drunk) when i was living with my cousin for about a year in Grand Rapids, and it really helped me mature a lot, and get rid of my anger problem. I know how to function in society, i do not flip out at the drop of a hat on my friends or people in the "real world" in general...yet , in my mothers presence i cannot control it, so i feel like if i stay here my maturity level will end up going backwards..

so, in feb.(when i turn 17) im getting out of my mother's / stepfather's house and im moving into a house with 5 of my friends in Grand Rapids.
(it makes paying the rent a lot easier with this many people or more in a 2-4 bedroom house, because we all have jobs so we split it up equally)

ive had a few jobs since i was 14 and i have saved a lot of my money and only took a little bit of spending money every paycheck, mostly just for cigarettes and...whatever else, but im quitting smoking now, so i can save a lot more before feb.
Ive been saving for this "moving out" thing, community college, and a vehicle....

all in all, i truly feel like i can do all of this, and it will satisfy me so much, to prove my mother wrong about how mature i am, and show her that i can take care of myself and i do not need her (financially speaking).

Dont get me wrong, i have unconditional love for my family, but we are extremely different in too many ways and its impossible for me to get along with them..

wow...i just realized i gave you part of my life story...sorry about that...

thank you though..

I'm 20. This is going to sound dumb ... I live with my mom and my 13 month old daughter. My mom is strict. I met a guy recently and he became my boyfriend. I met him through an online dating service. I want to visit him but she says she'll call the cops on me if I do and say I ran away. The other thing is I'm planning on moving with him. Again he says she'll involve the cops. Am I correct by saying the police will not get involved since I am legal age and have a child?

Dear Candi:

Yes, you are correct. At age 18, you are an adult and can live and go where you want.

I am 15 years old...my 16 year old sister turns 17 in about 7 months...she hates living here with me, my mom, and my other 2 sisters...she wants to move out when she turns 17 in March and go live with a guy who's in his 40's will she get in any trouble...will the guy in his 40's? I love my sister and I know why she hates it here and i think she wants to start a relationship with this guy. I'm concerned for my sister I know she likes the guy but she hasn't told him...she seems to think he will just take her in if she tells my mom she's leavin and just shows up on his door...do you have any advice I could pass on to her?

Dear Carlos:

The information I have provided above is applicable to your sister. You should have her read the information.

A man in his 40s is very likely to get tired of having a 17 year old around and would also very likely discard the 17 year old when he has had his use of her.

How does this gray area in the law affect a parent's responsibility for their 17-year-old child's legal troubles? For instance, if the 17-year-old who voluntarily left home commits a crime, is the parent responsible for any civil or criminal monetary awards or fines?

How about a school's obligations to parents of a 17 year-old who has run away? Is a school responsible for reporting information to the parent of a 17 year-old who no longer lives at home?

A parent is not per se vicarously liable for the crimes of their children and would not be responsible for paying awards or fines. Exposure would be limited to situations in which the parent is somehow involved such as in the case where the parent allows the child to use the parent's vehicle, and in those situations, the parent's deep pockets can be reached.

The public school is still responsible for reporting information to the parent(s).

Hey,
I'll be 17 in like 11 days and I live in a very stressful household. My Boyfriend (19) moved in with my mother and I, then her boyfriend moved in too. Ever since her boyfriend moved in I've been having a lot of problems, my mother and i don't have the same relationship that we've had before. We've gotten to the point that my boyfriend and I have decided that when I turn 17 we're moving back down state to his parents house. The only down fall is that I get a SSI from my father that passed away a few years back. My mother uses it to pay for the house and other stuff, and I'm going to have to fight to get it strictly into my name, how could I do that?

My brother and her boyfriend got into a fight and her boyfriend stated that him and my mother can do fine on their own, so then I decided that if so I'd leave and take my checks with me. Only part is, I'm waiting until the day of my birthday to tell her that I'm moving (or some day close) because if I tell her before she'll harrass me about everything. I can't take the mental stress there, I've gotten so bad I inflict pain on myself and am very depressed. I was wondering how it would be possible to get the point across to my mother that I'm leaving without more problems happening. There is too much and I can't live there anymore.

Any advice?

I am for sure leaving, even if I have to I'll go to the court and emancipate myself.

I just want to be happy again!

i am speaking on behalf of my gf she is 17 and will be 18 in 9 months she dosent like living with her mother she wants to live with her father,witch her father has no cutstody if she told her mom were she was going and her father let her stay would she have to go back to her mother
?

Hi,
My 17 yr old son has chose to run away in the middle of the night. My ex, his ncp, knows where he is and he will not tell me his where abouts! I am very concerned for my son. My ex is brain washing my 17 yr old son against me by telling him he's paying child support and that I am not spending it on my 2 sons. Long story short here, I chose to prosecute my ex for non payment of child support and now my ex is out to make my life a living hell! He has my 17 yr old son lying and saying that I beat on my children and that I with held his visitations to the kids when he chose to not see them or even call them. What can I do?? I don't want to see my son make the same mistakes that I made in my life by believing all the lies this man tells. At this point my 17 yr old son has tried to brain wash my 12 yr old son against me. My 12 yr old son feels that he can't be punished for acting up in school because he can just "run away" when ever he does not get his own way since his big bro did and is getting away with it. I had to grown my 17 yr old son for him lying and stealing by grounding him for a week and when I woke up this morning the kid was gone from our home!! I am very hurt and disappointed with his actions and trying to get my children in to counseling but that takes a bit of time when you are on medicaid. I am desperate for help..someone please help me help my children.

Mom of Two:

I have not much legal information to provide which will assist your situation. You could attempt to call the police and report him missing, telling the police that your ex may know where he is. This may only help in the short-run.

Your 17 year old son is at an age where he is going to do what he wants. At this age, your hands are tied in that there is not much you can do but offer your love and support, and be a good role model.

I suggest focusing on what you can control, which is yourself and your home environment. Make them as positive as possible, and above-all say your prayers.

reading all the comments and questions from these seventeen and sixteen year old girls really just gets me in the gut...First off it just amazes me that a child at seventeen would think they have the capacity to make it in this world alone or with another seventeen or eighteen year old boy, maybe these girls need to read the paper watch the news about how many girls thier age leave home because they think they have it so bad, Oh my mom is so strict, oh i hate my step father, he took my car away, PLEASE! WAKE UP, unless you are being abused or negected or asaulted ,stay at home listen to your parents, most of them are only trying to save your life, or at least make it better or save you from alot of mistakes they have made, finish your education go to college and then if you want to move in with some hair brain boy then do it, This is a generation of young girls that are ready to face the world and you are doing it on a wing and prayer and beacause of this law parents have no control. I want you to know something from the heart of a mother that lost a seventeen yearold girl, she left at seventeen, i filed a missing persons report she wouldnt tell me where she was or what she was doing, the police told me the same thing they are going to tell your parents, theres nothing they can do because of your age and the grey area between seventeen and eighteen. They told me there was nothing they could do, so i asked one police officer why even bother placing a missing persons report....? his response was because 30% of teenage girls between this age will end up dead or in jail and we have to know who to notify when we find a body that is unidentfied ...so before you get on your horse im leaving because you can,....think about it ..is it really that bad ? By the way My daughter has been gone for two years and no one has heard from her or seen her since ..and for the ones of you that are having children..i hope your child never puts you through what your family is about to indure

Thank you Lisa for your moving comments. I agree with the pointed statement that unless there is abuse or neglect, then these kids should stay at home and do what their parents require.

I am 17 and if i have a job and still go to school can i rent an apartment on my own. I have moved out once but had to come back. I would appreciate if you could awnser my question.

You could rent an apartment on your own however no landlord would allow you to do that because a 17 year old cannot enter into a legal contract.

My Name Is Austin. I am 16, and I live with my dad, but i want to live with my mom. I live in Michigan, so if I wait to turn 17 can I legally (without getting into any trouble) move in with my mom without my dads consent?

I have a few questions that I would greatly appreciate if you took the time to answer. I am a 17 year old boy I will be 18 in 1 month, I am a good kid I have all A's got accepted to a good university, never tried drugs, but my girlfriend , which I have dated for 2 years parents wont let us see eachother , because they don't like my father since he divorced my mom. Her parents are also very mean and degrading towards her. Once she turns 17, could she live with me and my family, which is my father, his fiance, and me, at my house without my dad getting in trouble or the police forcing her back home?

Dear Austin and Marcus:

If you read through the comments, you will find your answers. The information given applies as well to your situations.

I have a 17 year old step-daughter who no longer lives with us (had for the last 9 years) because she "made up" an audio tape and took it to DHS stating I was hitting her. (She and her boyfriend had planned on her moving out of the house this summer and she did!) She has been out of our house for 6 months but continues to slander me to others on the internet and in person.

Can I send her a cease and desist letter and have some legal back up with civil law?

Dear Cynthia, Lydija and other Readers:

The parent with physical custody is required by law to provide food, shelter and clothing to the child until they are the age of 18. Such a parent cannot kick their child out out of the house if they are under the age of 18.

I am not an appropriate expert, but in my experience, at age 17 1/2, there is little a parent or step parent can do but provide moral support and set a good example. Pick your battles wisely. Provide rewards where appropriate. Give ample freedom especially if the near-adult is getting good grades.

First, I would like to thank you for all the information.
I have just a few more questions,
If coming from a different state, that state's laws are completely disregarded once I am in MI, right?

Also, is it possible to enroll in a local school at age 17 without parent consent? and do you have an info on how to go about doing so?

And I know in MI anyone who assists a 17 year old leaving can't get in trouble but if they return to the home state and it DOES have a law against doing so, could they get in trouble there?

In my case I would be coming from WI.

Thanks in advance.

Hi
my name is luke and i just turned 17 today. I have been planning to move out for a month with my aunt in detroit. I was going to stay with her and she was going to help me with everything, SSI, School, Welfare, Medicare, and put a roof over my head, and let me work for her at the place she is opening up. Resently she got into a fight with her BF and now she told me to wait till she can get everything settled and know if i can still move with him and her bf. I might have to stay with my grandparents for a little bit, but there is a problem. My grandfather is a sex offender and my step dad told me that he will call social services and have me removed from there. I want to know if i can stay there for as the time being without the social services getting called and me getting taken away. Also I am going to be getting emancipated. I just want to get out of here because there is to much stress for me and its making me do bad in school and ending relationships with my friends.

Dear Luke:

It is a difficult situation you are in Luke. Though you may feel comfortable at your grandfather's, you may be easily manipulated to do things because of your age. I am not aware of the reason why your grandfather was put on the sex offender list, but you should be careful to keep yourself out of harm's way.

The police do not typically become involved when it comes to 17-year-olds leaving their parents household. I cannot see the future though and I don't know what any particular police officer might do. Emancipation would be the only way to guarantee that you can do what you want.

Please keep your head in the positive, make good decisions, and have faith in God and He will work things out for you.

Hi,
My parents are divorced. I lived with my mom for a long time, she had custody of me in the beginning and we saw our dad every other weekend and he aslo saw us as much as he could.
My mom had 4 other kids after my dad divorced her and she had one before my brother and i. she was remarried to my step dad and my mom didn't work. we've moved 8 times since my parents divorced and i hate it, i hated splitting rooms with my sisters and we lost our last house in 2005 and moved in with family. my dad got custody of my brother in 2005 when my mom didn't want him anymore, before we lost our house. my mom and sted dad were on pain killers, abusing them and my mom started drinking real bad, caused friction, our family had to move out and we moved to a friends house, my mom ended up kicking me out, forcing me to move in with my dad who i hate cuz he always favored my brother over me and my mom todl me all this stuff about him all the time, blaming my dad for all that has gone wrong for us all these years. i went to my dads and he wanted me to follow rules and i hate him. i skipped school and he didnt' like it. I do drugs and they hate it but it;'s my life and my body. I am 17, I can have what friends i want. he got me drivers training but didn't follow through on it becuase he told me i was "immature". him and his stupid wife get me so upset that i am infuriated, i could scream, my step mom especially is stupid because she acts like she knows more than I do and acts like she's goodie too shoes, she tries to be a mom or something but she's 11 years older than me, I don't have to listen to her tell me to clean up and do my own laundry. I didn't want to deal with thier stupid rules, I am too old to follow thier stupid rules, and I am mad at my dad because he wanted my mom to pay support and she's never worked, I couldnt' beleive he made the courts try to make her pay him, it all makes me so mad, so I moved out. I am old enought ot decide what is right for me. I moved out to my friend's moms house, but her husband didnt' want me there anymore, so me and my friend moved to her dads. He started doign stupid rules for me too, I had a job at my dad's, he & his wife were driving me to it, but I had to quit. her dad wanted me to get a job and help out in the house, which is stupid, and then he told me to move out when we skipped school one day. I moved in with another friends house and I'm stayign there until I graduate high school in June, but my Dad knows the whole situation, the school called him and child protective services are involved with my dad too, they think he kicked me out becuase that's what I told my school, but the CPS lady is stupid because she beleives them and went on my myspace page and got pictures of me doing drugs.

Can they make me move in back with my dad? CPS lady told me that he has to take care of me but she tells me that they cant' make me move back in with him?

Dear Nicole:

You are not the typical teenager I hear from on this page as I typically hear from those who are responsible and in truly troubled situations. You sound like a child. It is appropriate for teenagers to have to abide by their parents and friends' parents rules, which are set in place to condition the teen to be prepared to take care of themselves in an adult world. When you are truly on your own, there will be no place where you don't have to follow rules, as society is built upon rules.

Get your act together. Start thinking less of yourself and more of others. Start acting mature as a 17 year old and not a 13 year old. Stop doing drugs or you are headed to jail.

I am 17 years old, living with my boyfriend, and just found out i'm preganant. i am a junior in high school, he is 19 and dropped out. neither of us have jobs. we live with his mom. who is responsoble for my doctor bills and support during my prenancy. my parents know i am pregnant, his do not, as we are afraid they will kick us out. what are my options?

Dear Mary Sue:

You should contact the Family Independence Agency to find out about your resources - Medicaid, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT), Title XXI medical and developmental services to low income adolescent parents and their children. Your pediatrician can also facilitate coordination of these varying services.

Specifically, Medicaid is available to an eligible woman while she is pregnant. There is also a program called Maternity Outpatient Medical Services (MOMS) which provides immediate health coverage for pregnant women. It provides outpatient prenatal coverage only. The MOMS program is available to provide immediate prenatal care while a Medicaid application is pending. Teens who, because of confidentiality concerns, choose not to apply for Medicaid are eligible.

Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 30037
235 S. Grand Ave.
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Telephone: (517) 373-2035
Fax: (517) 335-6236
TTY: (517) 373-8071

i live in pennsylvania and im 17 and i was wondering if my parents could do anything if i runaway and have a stable place to go ?

this information is so helpful for my situation..
i decided that it wasn't such a good thing
for me to write out my problems considering there
are about a ton of more people that are having the same issue..
but reading through all of these comments really helped.
thank you so much!

--taelar

I appreciate this posting and information being given. I too, am like the multiple postings on this blog. My mother has been raising me by herself most of her life. We always clashed and from a young age I knew there was something not mentally stable with her. It wasn't until two years ago that her stability came into question. She began drinking and began being bulimic. For almost nine months, I took care of her. Our roles had been completely reversed and I was the parent to her. Hiding potentially self-inflicting dangerous items, taking the liquor away from her, staying up all night with her. Until one night, it was far too gone, and I called my Aunt who lives hours away. She came and picked me up, and I didn't return. I lived with her through the school year and into the Summer. When I finally returned to my "sober" mother, reality sunk in, for she was not actually healthy. She was committed and forced to get help. The day, however, of her release she started drinking again. The next year and a half have only been increasingly the same. My mother stays hours away a few nights a week, to be "closer" to work and stay with her boyfriend. I'm basically already on my own and living an independent life. The problems that come into play is when she tries to show her authority over me. I feel like she is not taking her medicine, for the way she's acting has been increasingly manic and extremely hard to control. I'm a Senior in High School, taking care of myself, but yet I have to have my own Mom even call me into school. I'm afraid to leave her, because I want to know she's safe. Do I have any options that could ensure not only her safety as well as mine? And through this Michigan loop-hole, will she still be responsible for me through the School? And the final question I have is regarding my child-support from my father. Would she continue receiving this money if I leave? Any input would be greatly appreciated, I'm not quite sure what options are available to me.

I am turning 17 by the summer of 2009. I plan on moving away from my dad because of a long story that I doubt you want to here. But, I was curious about my situation. I want to switch to a different school in my process of moving. At 17, can I, or a grandparent, or family member besides my parents, enroll me in school, because there is no way my parents will!

Dear Stevie:

I believe that it will be possible to have a grandparent or family member enroll you in school if you are living with them.

If it doesn't work out, consider that there are other ways to finish school such as getting a GED.

What if you are not living with them, and decide to live with a different adult. My friends parents. Is there anyway that the school would say that I cannot be enrolled? And can CPS try to place me in the system?

Also, my friend is in the same situation as me, but she is pregnant, what can she do?

As to both of you, CPS should not intervene. Furthermore, the school is interested in your residency, not your parental status.

So the parents cant say that the 17 year old cannot leave based on her pregnancy? There is no known law saying that a pregnant teen must stay at home?

Thank You so much on your advice, it has been very useful. I have one more question though. What can I do, if the police attempt to assist me back to my parents home. Can I refuse to and tell them about this loop hole in the system, or must I go? What things can I do to prove myself able to leave home?

I suggest that you clearly and calmly state your position to them. If you do not feel safe, then state that. Explain any emotional turmoil. Provide examples of negative situations. Remain clear and calm indicating that if you are returned, you will leave again as you must protect yourself. Do not fight with them. Calmly state that they do not have a right to return you to your home where it is and unhealthy and/or unsafe environment.

Know also that a child does not have to attend school after age 16.

For all persons in your situation - Please be a responsible and contributing member of society whatever you do. Do not blame others for your situation, but take steps to make your life positive. Know that you are important and special no matter what anyone says or does to make you feel otherwise. Let go of hate, pain, and sadness and let positivity fill your life. Life is always going to be a struggle and all we can do is adjust our attitudes to make the most of it.

What should we do ?
Our 17 year old daughter, who has a long history of oppositional defiant disorder and several mental health issues, has decided she doesnt want to live in our house any longer with our "stupid rules", rules such as don't bring drugs into our house, tell us where you are going, ask before bringing people we dont know into our house, dont get up on the roof to smoke (yes this is for real and not a joke), keep a B average in school, change your sheets at least every 2 weeks.....you get the idea...basic parent to kid rules. Nothing weird or over demanding. She is my husband's daughter, and my stepdaughter. Her mother has been incarcarated for 3 years in another state, and prior to that has not been involved in her life much. I have been raising her as my own dtr since she was 8 and my husband and I married.

She refuses to listen to us and now this behavior is spreading into school - she's been suspended this year once and on in-school suspsension twice already this year...and has now begun to violate the law, and was just arrested shoplifting 2 weeks ago. She tells us she doesnt have to listen to us if she doesnt want to. When we try to enforce some rules with consequences, she has begun to get verbally aggressive with us.

She decided to "get us off her back" in December and made up horrible lies about us and scratched her own arm all up (she has a history of self mutilation/cutting) and went to the school counselor crying her home life is awful...and they called CPS on us. The accusation was that I attacked her and gouged her arm up !!! and that my husband was guilty of child endangerment for not protecting his daughter from me !!

Our life became a living nightmare. My husband and i have never had ONE brush with the law, never even had a traffic ticket in over 7 years....and there we were hauled into court, treated like CRIMINALS by CPS case workers, and the worst thing yet, our 5 year old son was taken out of our home for 1 week and placed with my mother. Our daughter was placed in a shelter, where she continued to get into trouble with the staff there. Once CPS gathered all the information it was clear our dtr was the one having the problems. (she's been under CONSTANT mental health care for over 3 years), they dismissed the charges. We still had to go to court 3 times and I was between jobs (in healthcare) so I had to wait until all was closed before seeking new employment. To make it brief, our life has been turned upside down and into a nightmare. I still have not secured a new job yet, and we are under severe financial strain. Things with our daughter we quite rocky before this incident but now have become intolerable. We have been going to family therapy weekly and she continues her weekly one on one sessions but little progress has been made because she does not have any remorse or empathy at how this has affected everyone, most of all no care that her little brother was removed as well. I have withdrawn from her and refuse to be alone with her at any time if I can help it.

She has gotten angry with us now because we have pretty much said this is the last straw - her getting arrested for shoplifting. She then stated fine, no one wants me here, I am leaving....we tried to reason with her but she would not listen and she left...to her friends house.

She is in a juvenille probation program through the local District Court, and although she has violated her probation terms many times they have yet to give her any type of punishment. Now, they are trying to secure placement for her in a teen transitional living program for troubled teens. Our dtr is staying with her friend who is 18 and the friend's mother and boyfriend. The man does not want our dtr in the house. Our dtr refuses to come home.

We are very scared and dont know what to do. We are near having our home go to foreclosure, and cannot afford any further civil damages caused by this child's actions (we owe Kohl's $200.00 for her shoplifting). It is only a matter of time before she is arrested again, as she has been doing drugs and bringing them into our home when she was here...we caught her...

Should we report her as a runaway to legally cover ourselves ? Is asking the district court judge to emancipate her unreasonable ?

please advise

Dear DG:

If your child is still in the probate / juvenile court system, then you should tell her appointed juvenile court officer about the situation and put it in writing. You know where your daughter is so you cannot report her as a runaway.

Your teenager is finding her independence and personality. She is acting typical of many teenagers. She is 17 and might as well be an adult. Do not give up on her. Since your current system is not working, consider a change. Let up on the rules and pressure. Don't make her come home but let her know the door is always open. Give her words of encouragement and love without qualifying them.

I will make the best of my life. I plan on reenrolling in a school that I have attended before, graduating, and going to college to become an RN. I also had a question I dont think that I had answered. What if my friend, her name is Sarah, she just founf out she is pregnant. She would feel alot less stressed and more comfortable and safer at her very close family friends house. She will also be 17 by this summer, and is wondering if her pregnancy will have any say in whether she can move out of her parents home without their permission or not.

Dear Stevie:

I am pleased to learn that you have such solid plans for your future. You can achieve anything you set your mind to.

As to your friend's issue, her pregnancy should only give her more standing to make decisions on her own.

If you have any more questions, please let me know.

Can Child protective services get involved if the person that leaves home, was in the system before, but is out, and the case has been closed for almost 5 months?

Dear Jamie:

Once a person is in the Child Protective Services system, if their name were to come up again for investigation, it is more likely that Child Protective Services would become involved.

What is the age limit for parents to file petition for incorrigibility of a teenager in Michigan? My husband and I have 3 wonderful children, 22, 20 & 17. My 22 yo & 20yo are both in college, were wonderful children, active and progressive with thier education, friends, community and sports. On the other hand, our 17 YO daughter has flipped to the wayside, she is simply out of control. She's in a very bad group of friends who I think have persuaded her into this lifestyle she demands to live. We've raised her the same way the others with no changes in our lives, so I don't understand. These past 3 years and it has been nothing but turmoil and the last 6 months, getting worse with her.

She's been in trouble for shoplifting, has an MIP against her, got caught trying to buy cigarettes at a party store in a county sheriff sting, she's damaged the home and some of our belongings, took the car out joy riding (we won't finish her driver's training due to her behavior and attitude so she has no license) and also drove her friend's car, there's drug use and alcohol use present, she allows people we do not care for in our house on several occasions, her language is nothing but profanity, she's truant from school depsite our efforts to physically take her there and communicating with the school. She'll walk out in the middle of the day or not even go into her 1st hour class. We've set basic rules for the household and she refuses to follow them, violates her curfew or will nto tell us where she's going. The past year she has gone away 6 times for a week long stretch and was going away on her weekends, telling us where she was going only to find out she lied. Now she lives with a friend and her friends mom. We've tried counseling since she was 14 but she flat out refuses and we;ve told her we should take her to the hospital .She used to be so pleasant, very close with her family, me and her dad, good grades, intelligent with goals.



Anything we try to do to help her turns into an argument or will try to manipulate us or blackmail us, "I'll stay in school if you get me a new cell phone, give me $500 to go to the mall or will drive me to so & so's house everyday". We just want her to graduate. She refuses to speak with either of us, won't return calls or emails, or from any of her family, siblings, etc. Told us to send her money, in which we have, but this time, she is demanding certain brands of clothes, gift cards to certain stores, new eye glasses, and she says if we dont' spend at least $2300 on her in the month to get her these things, she'll call CPS- CPS already has been invovled and they see that we are helping her out and she's unreasonable. The police won't do anything because we know where she is, however, we do have to feed her & clothe her per the law, so we've been giving her gift cards, I've been buying her food, clothes, etc.

We are looking into any resources we can. The county and the school has been very helpful as far as resources but those resources are exhausted and basically the school's and our hands are tied behind our backs.



Please explain what incorrigibilty actually is and if it would be something we can do. She's 17 soon to be 18. There's no way she could get emancipated because she refuses to work and is not mature. Several people have recommended it and I went to the county's website and it seems like it would be a good idea in our situation. Seeing that our daughter is to be 18 in August of 2009, I'm not really sure at this point if we should bother being the legal process can be slow in some cases.



Thanks

With a petition for incorrigibility, you are asking the court to intervene and mediate the relationship between your and your child, who must be less than 17. You are correct also in considering that it would not be worth your trouble to file anything because of the slowness of the legal process.

At this point, positive reinforcement and good examples are all you can do for your child. You do not need to provide anything more for her than her basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing. You are providing her shelter and she chooses not to use it. Send her only what she needs and not anything more. Tread the line between rewarding her behavior and providing the basics.

Im 19 years old and my gf is 17, im moving to florida to go to school and during the summer my gf wants to move with me. We both currently live in michigan. Her life at home is very stressful on her and her dad is never home due to the bad relationship with her mother. Her mother is always yelling at her and grounding her for absolutely nothing only because she tries to state how she feels. She is the only one that cleans and does anything around the house but cant ever go do anything. I am wondering if she finishes this school year and moves with me in the summer and enrolls in school what type of trouble could we get in? We will both be living with my mother and all have jobs. Does living in another state have anything to do with things. Thank You

but I wasnt in any trouble with the system, I was just placed there because my parents couldnt have me live with them yet because they had done drugs in the past. But if I leave, I will not be breaking the law, and I never have broken the law. How could I get in trouble with CPS? What can CPS legally do with me?

I am 17 years old and i will be 18 in feburary.I want to leave home right now and live with some friends who are like my "second parents".They already take me to school,they feed me,i take showers over there.I am over there 100 percent of the time except when my real parents needs me to babysit for them because i have 7 siblings younger then me and 2 older then me.my parents say i can not move with these other people because i am on ssi. and they are moving out of state pretty soon and it is illlegal for me to leave the state.I want no part of them but they wont let imancipate or nothing.I feel if i stay at home my life will not turn out as good as it would if i moved with the friends out of state.So please what can i do to move out of state with them..please help.

thanks soo much

Dear Garrett:

I feel for your situation. When you are 18, you are considered an adult and are free to live where you choose. I understand that you do not want to move with your parents. It would be most helpful if we could email each other directly or speak on the phone so that I can inform you more fully. I am glad to help. Please email me directly at lawref@lawrefs.com.

IF my parents tried to take me to court for moving out, wouldnt it take a long time to even have the trial? should they just give up on trying to get me home? If a judge heard that I moved out of my home, but im living with a friends parents, and I am being taken care of, what do you think a judge would do?

Dear S. F.:

The questions you ask are not questions I can answer because I do not know the history between you and your parents, or the court system that would be involved. I can say that when a child reaches the age of 17, it is not worth the parents efforts to restrict the child if the child is one who will do what they want anyway. In those situations, setting a good example and showing unconditional love seems to be the wise choice for parents.

The history is not much. I live with him and his wife. He has done drugs in the past. Ive been in foster care, and I am out now. The reason I was in foster care wasnt from me doing something wrong. My parents did drugs and I was taken away. The case of foster care is closed and has been for a few months now. If I dont break laws, can CPS even take me? I wont be in any danger. and Ill be living in a safe home.

Hello, I just read on another legal site, I cant remember the name, but It said something about a Runaway and Homeless act or something like that? Im not really sure what that is or what it means? Can you please explain it to me? Thank you so very much

Hello, I just read on another legal site, I cant remember the name, but It said something about a Runaway and Homeless act or something like that? Im not really sure what that is or what it means? Can you please explain it to me? Thank you so very much

Dear Veronica:

I believe this is a federal program which provides money to state groups that provide services to homeless youth. Please visit the following website for more information and the names of Michigan groups. I plan to provide a more thorough discussion of this Act in the near future.

http://web.wm.edu/hope/Semi...

Please tell me the importance of MCR 3.704 Interstate Compact on Juveniles.

MCR 3.704 is a court rule that refers to the court's jurisdiction over juveniles. Court Rules establish uniform rules and procedures to ensure that cases are resolved without undue delay and that those who appear in court receive due process and equal treatment under the law. They are procedural rather than substantive. To find the law on an issue, one would look to the statutes that are enacted by the legislature and are codified in Michigan Compiled Laws as signified by M.C.L.

The particular rule that you have cited provides that proceedings involving children a certain age / juveniles shall be put through the probate court, juvenile division. This gives the probate court jurisdiction to hear the case.

If you are looking for guidance in your situation, you would look to the Michigan Compiled Laws, which are found on the Michigan Legislature website, and you would look to the case law. Michigan Court Rules such as the one you cited would be sought when you are proceeding in the court and want to know in which court to file, steps to proceed, costs of filing, notice to be provided, etc. Your substantive rights are found in the compiled laws also referred to as statutes and in the case law which tells us how judges and juries interpret the statutes.

well i turn 17 on august first. i dont really like living with my dad anymore. he yells at me for the stupidest things and he blows things out of proportion, specially when he is in a bad mood. so i have been talking with my mom and my aunt and they said that i could live with them when i turn 17. what i heard for that though is that you need a job or somewhere to go and i have somewhere to go. would i be able to do that? i have a way there and stuff. like the plan for me is to "visit them" this summer but when my birthday comes, im calling my dad and telling him that im staying with them. would that be okay for me to do??

The history is not much. I live with him and his wife. He has done drugs in the past. Ive been in foster care, and I am out now. The reason I was in foster care wasnt from me doing something wrong. My parents did drugs and I was taken away. The case of foster care is closed and has been for a few months now. If I dont break laws, can CPS even take me? I wont be in any danger. and Ill be living in a safe home.

Will I have any problems if I leave 1 day after I turn 17?

The law is applied the same 1 day after you turn 17 as it is 10 or 100 days.

I moved out of my parents home the day after I turned 17.
My mom tried everthing she could to stop me. But the law is on my side. I moved in with my bf and we have a new son. Now I want to move to another state with my bf and baby and my bf family. I am still 17 and in high school. My mom does not want me to leave. Can she legally stop me from moving out of state before I turn 18?

This I am not sure if you can answer. I plan on going to college after I graduate, but I will be moving out of my parents home before then. If I need student loans and whatnot, can they base my income off my parents income? Also, I get a check from my dad being on Social Security. Is there any way I can get SSI from him, and get some sort of child support?

I had a question. If my dad is on disability, and I get money from that, will he still be the one that collects the checks or will they have to come to me? Will there be any child support problems?

Dear SMM:

If your parents are claiming you as a dependent, then their income will be considered when you go to get student loans. You should check with the college which you wish to attend regarding financial aid.

If the Social Security check you receive is a child benefit, it will discontinue when you turn 18 unless you are still in high school. You should talk to the Social Security office about changing your payee.

You should contact the Social Security Administration and the Family Independence Agency about benefits for which you might be eligible.

It would be up to your father to give you part of any child support payment he receives for supporting you. Child support would end at 18 or until the child finishes high school.

I am 17 and I now live with my boyfriend and his family. I still attend school and sometimes I take home papers that require a signature from a LEGAL parent or gaurdian. My boyfriends mother isn't my legal gaurdian because I havent gone to court, what do I need to do?

Janae, this is Marie. I was wondering, from personal experience, did you have any troubles leaving home at 17? Could you please write back. Im not sure If I can share my email on here. Please share your experience, so I know what to expect! Thanks so much!

If a child was once in the foster care system, not because of illegal actions, just because of unfit living conditions, could CPS possibly get their hands on her again. She is 17 and 3 months pregnant. She has never been in trouble with the law, and wants to move away from her parents. She will have a steady place to go to. Please help us. We are in need of advice! The foster care case has been closed for a while now, because her father just gained custody of her. She is extrememly unhappy and wants to finish school in a different city and live in a more comfortable home. I don't want her back in foster care, she has done nothing wrong to deserve it

If a child was once in the foster care system, not because of illegal actions, just because of unfit living conditions, could CPS possibly get their hands on her again. She is 17 and 3 months pregnant. She has never been in trouble with the law, and wants to move away from her parents. She will have a steady place to go to. Please help us. We are in need of advice! The foster care case has been closed for a while now, because her father just gained custody of her. She is extrememly unhappy and wants to finish school in a different city and live in a more comfortable home. I don't want her back in foster care, she has done nothing wrong to deserve it

Dear Gina and Karla:

CPS has an interest in children who are or are in danger of being abused or neglected. Under the Michigan Child Protection Law, the young woman of whom you speak is legally a child, however, from what you have indicated, she is in no danger of being abused or neglected. Therefore, it seems unlikely that CPS would become involved.

Furthermore, at age 17, parents can do little to keep their children at home. MCL 722.151, which prevents the aiding or abetting of juveniles, or harboring of runaways only applies to children under age 17; and the Juvenile Court, only has jurisdiction for those under age 17.

If what is planned is truly in the best interest of the young woman and her baby, then it will be hard for third parties to remove her to a lesser situation.

I wish the best for all of you and will be interested to know any follow-up status which might be of benefit to my readers.

Thank you so much Renee. I will be sure to fill you in on how things go. Your advice is very helpful, and I will look forward to receiving your advice again soon! Updates are coming!

Dear Janae:

If a legal guardian's signature is required, then you need the legal guardian. If you want to change your legal guardian, then you need to petition the court for emancipation thereby becoming an adult in the eyes of the law or file for a change of custody from your parents to the legal guardian.

""refadmin wrote:
Dear Mr. Kowalski and Son:

Until age 17, a mother such as yours who reports you as a runaway to the police will likely receive police assistance in finding you and bringing you home. Furthermore, a parent with a court order for custody that is being violated, can go to the FOC to get assistance in enforcing the court order. ""

Can this be enforced once a teenager reaches the age of 17? Because my dad has a custody order from court. Could he make me come home?

""refadmin wrote:
Dear Mr. Kowalski and Son:

Until age 17, a mother such as yours who reports you as a runaway to the police will likely receive police assistance in finding you and bringing you home. Furthermore, a parent with a court order for custody that is being violated, can go to the FOC to get assistance in enforcing the court order. ""

Can this be enforced once a teenager reaches the age of 17? Because my dad has a custody order from court. Could he make me come home?

Oh, and I am not moving in with another parent or something. I am just moving in with a close friend.

Dear Kari:

Once you are 17, it is unlikely that the police will become involved in returning you home. The comments applicable to a 17-year-old will apply to you.

i was just concerned about whether they could actually take the custody matter to court? They just got legal custody of me. Could they press the issue to court, and have me placed back at home through courts?
- and for the record, I have no criminal charges what-so-ever.

and also, even if the police did assist me home, if I left again, they still could do nothing, am I correct?

Dear Kari:

Since custody matters take a long time to resolve through the court system, the benefit of using the courts at your age decreases. You may be 18 before the custody issue is resolved or not have long until you are 18.

In all situations, if you are ever involved with the police the impression they have of you is going to be very important in deciding what they do. But yes, in the unlikely event you are assisted home, you may leave again without breaking the law.

Good luck.

Thank you. I have asked so many people this question. In my case. I have talked to ever person that I can. I even talked to the state police in my area, and I have become pretty close with them. Ive never broken the law in anyway, so I think that upon that level I will be ok. Thank you so much for your time and dedicated hard work in answering the questions exactly as I needed them answered!!

My son is 17 1/2. I have physical custody and share legal custody with my ex-wife. He came to live with around 2 years ago as I have petitioned foc for custody for approx. 6 years. His mother could not handle him, not even a little bit. He is stubborn, know it all, should be able to do whatever he wants when he wants, wont take no for an answer, failing and skipping school, no drivers license, no job, disrespectful, defiant, etc....I fought to get custody of him for years. He wanted to come and live with me. He has spiraled out of control. Within the last week my wife and I started noticing jewelry missing and come to find out he has stolen around $20,000 worth of diamond rings, tennis bracelets, rolex watch and much more. We are sick about it. He admitted to stealing the items and told us who pawned and sold the jewelry and where to find it. Now we must decide whether or not to press charges. Today as we have been burdened and overwhelmed in trying to do the right thing, we get a phone call from the police dept that he is in jail, intoxicated and disorderly. He left this afternoon without permission. Obviously he is in serious trouble and grounded for stealing all of the jewelry. When the police called, we told them that we will not be there to post bail. He said we have to come and pick him up that the police station is not a detention center. Are we responsible for his criminal legal bills ie. probation, fines. We just do not know what to do. He truly believes that he is above the law. I have told all of my boys that if they ever went to jail, they would stay there. Now the police tell me I have to come and get him. I say what I mean and I mean what I say. I am not going to get him. He can wake up tomorrow IN jail and sick. As his parents are we going to be held finacially responsible for the crimes that he commits?

im 17 and 4 months... i cant stand living with my mom anymore. ive been planning on leaving to go live in another state with my boyfriend who is 24. can he be charged for anything? will i be forced back to live with my mom?

I do not get along with my parents well at all. I am 16 and I want to move out as soon as a turn 17. I want to move into a friend's house, and their parents are completely fine with me moving in when I turn 17 if its legally possible. They are a great family, but my parents dont like either. Could she cause a problem if I were to take this action when I turn 17? And if it were possible, what will the steps be that I have to take so she couldnt get the police involve. I have straight A's, have a job that supports me, and I have no criminal backround.

Dear Cas:

At age 17 1/2, your son is essentially on his own. It sounds like he needs some tough love, however, pressing charges may be too tough since he would be charged as an adult. You are not responsible for his legal bills or crimes and no, you don't have to go get him.

Dear Nessa:

You are old enough to make decisions for yourself. You must do what is in your best interest. I suggest that you tell your mom where you are going and do it in front of a witness. Tell her it is your decision and that you will keep in touch with her. Do keep in touch with her. If you write to her, make copies of your letters. This way you have a witness and proof that you are not a runaway. Your boyfriend should not be charged with anything in Michigan since you are no longer a juvenile and since you are presumably making the decision on your own.

Dear Mel:

As you can see there are few teenagers who get along with their parents.

If you tell your parents where you are going to be they cannot report you as a runaway. You can't really prevent another person from doing anything. If your parents wanted to call the police they could. It is unlikely that the police would do anything if you are 17. Furthermore, if you told your mom where you were, she could not report you as a runaway. Unless you are in harms way or there is criminal activity, the police would not likely get involved because there is nothing they could do to prevent you from leaving again. Continue to get As, keep your job, and keep in touch with your mom.

One more question. Is there anything that I can do before I turn 17? I have about 6 months before my birthday, but I'm thinking if I try and move out now, she'll force me to move back with her. Is that correct?

hi, im a 17 year old and i just have one question, i've read through the comments and i just want to make sure for my situation. I live with my mom in florida who has full custody of me and it hasnt been pretty living there. My girlfriend who is also 17 and is 23 weeks pregnant recently moved to Michigan and my mom is keeping me in florida till im 18. I have been doing alot of research on it and i just want to know if i get a flight to michigan without my mom knowing and live with my girlfriends family, which i will be having a job, a place to stay, and a school to graduate. I was planning on calling my mom when i landed in michigan to tell her where i am and i'm going to call her everyday to talk to her and to let her know that everything is ok. so my question is, will me or my girlfriends family get introuble with the law and will have to be forced back to florida because i lived in that state?

Do 17 yr olds in michigan who have their operators liscense have any type of curfew?

i also want to add that ive only lived in florida for 8 months but i have a Pennsylvania Drivers License. So since im not offically a florida resident, can the florida law do anything?

I was having a relationship with a boy who is 16 and im an adult... above drinking age actually. In Michigan I know that's legal but his parents found out called the police and they called me to return him home. I did so, without hesitation. But I got a call after the weekend saying they have requested me not have any communication w him ever again. We had great feelings for each other and had spent a long time talking about how long we would love to be together and we are both absolutely devastated! Can I really get in trouble for emailing him, can there be any way of stopping that without something like a p.p.o. or something? Also, I am afraid if there was a problem with use of the internet, even though consensual in person is the relationship illegal if conducted online? I was told a possible kidnapping charge was being investigated but I picked him up from his grandparents and they knew me and were responsible for him. I will respect the families wishes to not meet or be in a relationship, but no contact is crushing, Basically I want to be able to be friends for now and back to partners when he is 17 . when 17 could that get me or him into trouble? and is a flimsy kidnapping or delinquency charge pursuable after hes 17 and 6 months after the indecent?

Hi I am the mother of a 17year old daughter; we have always been very close. She met her first boyfriend, I knew he had a past but she said he was working on changing and getting into the military. After I started to get to know his family, I wasn't impressed... His mother has assault charges for stabbing a man in the eye... and many other aggression issues. At my daughter's school prom; they were kicked out because he was not allowed there. Apparently, he had threatened to bomb the school when they expelled him for selling drugs, etc... these are things I was NOT aware of. His mother attended prom when the kids were kicked out, she assaulted both the principal and a police officer, yelled, swearing and was making a scene. I did not want anything further to do with this boys mother. I was sick with the flu and my daughter's boyfriend and his friend were here, I was suppose to drive them home... I couldn't and asked that they call one of their parents to pick them up. They couldn't find anyone, so they said they would sleep on the couch downstairs because I was so sick. I don't typically have alcohol in my house but I won a very large bottle, 3L of Crown Royal at a benefit a few days prior. My daughter and I both went to bed. The two boys (17&19) got into the bottle, drank 1/2 of it.... they carried my daughter downstairs, half asleep and tried to get her involved with a 3some... apparently she stopped them, came up to her bedroom crying and shaking... her boyfriends friend came into her room and tried to lay down next to her... she asked where her boyfriend was and he said 'shhh we're playing a trick on your mom'... 'he's in bed with your mom'... she started screaming, I woke up, half in a daze and felt someone in my bed with me, touching me then he jumped off the bed and ran.... I kicked both the boys out of the house and got this story from my daughter. She was so upset, it was over with this boy, etc... I wanted to call the police but I felt that I couldn't because they got into my alcohol, were underaged and I could have been in trouble had they said that I gave it to them or something. I told my daughter this boy was not allowed to be in my home again. She was okay with that until 3 days later, he sent an email... she wanted to have him back. I was against it. She left home, went and moved in to his house with his parents.I tried to get her home, she wouldn't... she said she wanted to be with him and his parents told me to get off their property because she was 17 and could do what she wanted. I realize this but I am worried for her well being. This