If I’m going off to college andI don’t want to live with my parents anymore, canthey report me to the police as a runaway?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If I’m going off to college andI don’t want to live with my parents anymore, canthey report me to the police as a runaway?
I’m still 17, turning 18, by the end of the year. College is in the same state but no dorm and transportation costs would be prohibitive if my parents don’t cover them entirely themselves (which they refuse to).
Asked on September 1, 2010 under Criminal Law, New York
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
Technically you are a minor until you are 18. Could your parents do that? Why yes, I believe that they could. You have not given many details here like who is paying for college itself and where you are going to live and who is paying for that. Important details. And how are you going to support yourself at college? Is it that your parents don't want you to go to that college?
In New York State, a child is entitled to be supported by his or her parents until the age of 21. However, if the child is under 21 years of age, and is married, or self-supporting, or in the military, the child is considered to be "emancipated" and the parents' support obligation ends.
A child may also be considered "emancipated" if he or she is between 17 and 21, leaves the parents' home and refuses to obey the parents' reasonable commands. So you may qualify here but what about all the rest of the stuff I asked? I think that you need to get some guidance here. Go down to Family Court and speak with a law clerk. Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.