What is the legal age a minor can leave her parents home without consent in NH?

Question

I am 16 years old and pregnant with my first child. My boyfriend and I would like to raise our baby on our own. He is 20 with a stable job. I am homeschooling trying to finish highschool. I live with my mom and grandparents. My grandparents treat me as an outcast and yell at me all the time. My mom is never home. I told her I want to move out and in with my boyfriend and she did not object but she could always change her mind so I am curious about the laws in New Hampshire. Thanks.

in new hampshire age of consent is 16 so it is legal

Answer 1

Unfortunately, you must have your parent's consent to move out of their home until you're 18. Unless you'd like to take them to court - if you can prove to a judge that you would be able to support yourself and your child and the judge has reason to believe that you two would be better off or just as well on your own, then the judge may allow you to go off and live on your own. I don't know how to explain it exactly... I guess the judge kind of grants you custody over yourself, or something.

Hopefully your mom just won't have a problem with you moving in with your boyfriend. I moved in with my boyfriend and his family when I was 16. I wasn't pregnant and I wasn't having any problems getting along with my mom, it was just that my boyfriend and I hated being apart. Plus, my mom was in the middle of a divorse and looking for a new place to live, and I didn't get along with her to-be ex-husband, so it ended up working out well for both families.

I still live my boyfriend and his family. We're not planning on getting our own place until my boyfriend's done with college. It's great living with my boyfriend, but I always miss my mom. Sometimes I regret moving out because I miss her so much. But in a way, it helped out our relationship a lot. When I lived with my mom I was a young teen, so we were always arguing over little things and not getting along just because... well, every teen goes through that phase where they barely get along with their parents. Now, we have the best relationship.

Just make sure you really think things through. Even if you move out, try and keep a really good relationship with your mom, because someday you're really going to need her. It's nice knowing that if anything happens between you and your boyfriend, you'll always have a place at home with your mother.

Anyway, congratulations on the baby and good luck!

Feel free to email me if you have any other questions or just want to talk. I'm from New Hampshire, too, but a few years older than you.

Answer 2

You are too young...and I can say that cause I had a baby when I was 16, and not matter what , I can say that I wish I didn't move out. Having a baby that young IS stressful and you should have all the help you have offered to you. Maybe they have a reason for acting the way they are. I'm not saying they do, but give it a chance. They wont be able resisit the baby soon enough.

Answer 3

First, I am so sorry to hear about your mom and grandfather. I think the age is 16...but sadly I am not sure. You can call lawyers and many of them will give free consultations and you can ask what you can do to help. Sounds like the her mom needs to have both children taken away from her. Leaving dirty diapers and rotting food around is horrible. Good luck, and I hope that it all works out for your niece. :) If you need someone to talk to, you can always get a hold of me. :)

Answer 4

well the obvious law being broken is statutory rape. If your parents really dislike your boyfriend they can have him arrested (a male over the age of 18 in not legally allowed to engage in intercourse with a female under the age of 17, whether it is consentual or not).

Answer 5

You have to be 18.

Answer 6

- Pay no attention to the previous answer, New Hampshire
- statutes state that 16-years old is the legal age of consent
- in that state.

- Regarding your question, I looked throughout New Hampshire
- statutes and could find nothing specifically prohibiting you
- moving in with your boyfriend. However, you will still remain
- the responbility of your mother because you will not be
- emancipated until your 18th birthday.

Title I, Chapter 21, §21-B-1

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/I/21-B/21-B-1.htm

"Age of Majority Changed. – The common law rule that a person is a minor to the age of 21 is hereby abrogated. A person who has reached his eighteenth birthday is hereby declared to be of majority for all purposes, except as prohibited by the constitution of New Hampshire and of the United States."

- If you choose to live in a home other than with your parent,
- the home has to be registered as a foster home; the only
- exception is that if you are married. Because you are under
- the age of 18, you would require both parent and court approval
- to receive a marriage license.


Title XLIII, Chapter 457 §6

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XLIII/457/457-6.htm

"Petition by Party Under Age. – If special cause exists rendering desirable the marriage of a person resident in this state, or the marriage of a person who is a nonresident in this state who applies for permission to marry a resident in this state, either person being below the age of consent and above the ages specified in RSA 457:4, the parties desiring to contract such marriage, with the parent or guardian having the custody of such party below such age, if there be such parent or guardian, may apply in writing to a justice of the superior court, or to the judge of probate of the county in which one of them resides, for permission to contract such marriage. No waiver shall be granted to persons below the age of consent if both parties are nonresidents"

Title XLIII, Chapter 457 §7

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XLIII/457/457-7.htm

"Granting of Permission. – Such justice or judge shall at once hear the parties, and, if satisfied that special cause exists making such marriage desirable, shall grant permission therefor, which shall be filed with the court and shall be reported to the division of vital records. The division shall note the fact of the granting of such permission upon the certificate and upon all copies thereof which are by law required to be kept"

- The law regarding you living in a residence different from your
- mother's and that it has to be a foster home is hearsay. The
- site I got that information from did not provide any sources.

http://www.ci.keene.nh.us/youthservices/faq.htm