Can a 16-year-old male leave home if his parents tell him to leave?
No, the parents are legally and financially responsible for the minor until the intervention of state social services or the court of jurisdiction rules otherwise. If the parent do not wish to involve a state agency on behalf of the minor, they must follow the proper legal procedure to place the minor child in a suitable environment, this includes living facility, food, clothing, medical care, educational expenses and so forth. Parent(s) CANNOT arbitrarily force a minor child to leave the family home w/o being subject to criminal charges. Each individual’s situation differs and must be addressed in a manner that will resolve the issue as equitably as possible. If the minor wishes assistance on his/her own behalf they may contact the Department of Family Services or Child Protective Services in their county of residence. National Youth Crisis Hotline 1-800-448-4463, National Youth Emergency Services (Toll-free) 1-800-899-5437. A web site staffed by teens to aid teens in various situatio
