Legally, can a parent from Washington state stop a 17 year old from going somewhere?

Question

I'm turning 18 in four months, i had dropped out of school to get my GED at 15 because of my social anxiety disorder. When i'm 18 i plan to move to Texas where my boyfriend is currently living. Before that, i would like to visit Texas to see if i'll really like living there. My father agrees to this and is with me 100%.

But my mother is threatening to call the police if we do this before i'm 18. My mom has bad separation anxiety and i usually cant go anywhere which is the cause of my social anxiety disorder. By the time my mom finishes interrogating my friends, they give up on me and stop talking to me which is another reason why i dont have any friends. She tries her best to get rid of them so that i'm not in "danger". I'm glad my boyfriend has stuck with me, hes been through hell with my mother already.

Legally, can a police officer stop me from taking a trip to Texas for 10 days? Or rather, if i'm already there could the police in Texas bring me back/arrest me?

Answer 1

Your parents could file a missing persons report. If the police in Texas find you, they can force you to go back.

Answer 2

You're right. The cops probably won't take the time to find someone who's 17. However, keep in mind that at 17 you can't legally get a job or a cell phone or an apartment or enroll in school or apply for aid or do anything at all, really. Therefore, you will be 100% dependent on yoru boyfriend and his family to completely support you. So, if he cheats on you and you want to break up, you'll have to slink all the way back to Indiana anyway, unless you want to live on the streets. But, relationships at 17 are always so stable, so that'll never happen right? Please at least use a condom...we don't need more of you running around.

Answer 3

If you're turning 18 in four months, I think it would be already too late to try and sue for emancipation. I would try to suck it up until then - after all, it IS four months, and while you wait, find out where in Texas your boyfriend is living, and see if you can find any local employment there pertaining to what you want to do. You need to learn to support yourself in order to detach from your psychotic mother. An employment agency will help you with this.

I'm so glad your father is behind you on this. Your mother sounds like she could use some professional help.

Answer 4

God this sounds very familiar. If I haven't talked to you , you have a twin in my County. You are under your parent's rule until your 18th birthday or you sue for emancipation. You will not get emancipated unless you have a place to live, a job that will support you and a plan in place for getting your diploma or GED.

It would be easier to suck it up and wait for 18. Then, move out while you know everything and your mother is a complete dumba$$. As you get older, you lose your smarts and start forgetting everything you "knew" as a little girl.

Answer 5

good q. i'm not sure since one of your parents is saying okay but, i would think you'd need permission from both. i guess you could try it and see what happens. i must ask, are you sure about this? you're very young. even though 18 is legal age,you won't really be an adult yet. not emotionally anyway. if you were my daughter, i'd have a huge problem with this.

Answer 6

I'd say get your Dad's help on this one... but be careful... if your BF is over 18 already... your mom can try to use that. If I am even that kind of mother may I be shot in the head, PLEASE!

Answer 7

yeah, your a minor. ever hear of an amber alerr? yeah they can bring you back, and if you go across state lines the feds get involved. just wait until your 18, or go with your dad.

Answer 8

Unless you are emancipated, you have to listen to your parents.