What rights do I have to leave the house?

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: aves2k

Originally posted by: Skoorb

i can get a nice 2 bedroom apt. for $200-250/month

Bullsh*t. I'm calling you on that. I don't believe there is anywhere in the US within driving distance of a phone booth that will let you get a nice 2 bedroom for $200-250. Fantasy land, my man.

Yeah I have a hard time buying that too.

I don't think you can get a run down apartment in S. Central for that little.

 

[Ulfwald]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
you want to live in a cardboard box behind Arby's? :Q

you want to be an adult and be miserable with adult problems, go for it

Exactly.

 

[GeekDrew]

OK, I've become the self-appointed expert at leaving your custodian's house before you are of legal age (i.e. 18).

It has been a long time since I posted about it here, but I am gay, and am from a very backwoods, redneck, homophobic family. They are from nowhereville, Ohio. My parents began mentally and emotionally abusing me about the time I turned 16. I am now living at another house, after having a teacher adopt me (and this didn't happen until 3 months ago - I turn 18 in less than a month).

Long story short, it's not going to happen unless you convince children's services, a mental health agency, a financial support agency, and a judge that it is in your best interest. I admit that I didn't do things in the best way, but I had to play it by ear. For example, one evening my parents started getting physical with me. I decided not to go home that evening, and I stayed with friends. I need to clarify that. I went home from school with one friend, who dropped me off at a corner. From there, another friend picked me up, not knowing why, and dropped me off somewhere else. Then a very trustworthy associate picked me up and I stayed at her house for the evening. I called the sheriff's office from a payphone, and informed them of my name, the nature of why I was not reporting home that evening, and that I still planned on returning to school the following day with no interruptions in schedule. The next morning, I arrived at the school. Guess what? No police or sheriff in sight. About half-way through the day, I was called to the director's office (big deal, I'm friends with her, lol). There was a deputy there, and he actually helped me and gave me some legal advice. He also told me that there were police departments in four different counties looking for me that evening, until I phoned in. (It's amazing... he was able to give me the locations that I was immediately after school (because I security cams (I intended that)) but he was unable to tell me where I stayed the evening). And yes, I was in all four counties that evening. Evasion of the police is not a good thing unless you are 100% sure that you are correct and that they will defend you in a court of law.

All told, it took the support of nearly 200 friends, associates, and teachers, not to mention 5 lawyers, 3 psychiatrists, numerous school officials, several police officers, and an entire county of children's service agents to get me out of my parents house. I even had to spend 2 months in a mental health agency, by orders of my parents. That was their fatal mistake: when the judge got wind of that, it was all over. The agency protected and supported me, and declared that my parents were the problem. One of my teachers was willing to "adopt" me, and that went through. Even now, my biological parents still have some influence or say in my life, albeit very very little.

To recap, tough it out until you turn 18. You haven't got enough time left to bother with fighting your way out. I've learned that the hard way.