How old do you have to be to move out in Missouri?

Moving Out in Missouri

In Missouri you can move out at 17, although the law is a bit confusing as it has a stipulation pertaining to juvenile court proceedings that place the age at 17. Although you are still considered "under-aged" it is highly unlikely that any official action could or would be taken if you decide to leave the parental home at this time.

I have just gone through this. I reside in Jefferson county, and was informed by a deputy that, "At the age of 17 a child can be tried as an adult, however, until the age of 18, the child is still under parental control . The child can however petition the court to become emancipated . If the child leaves without parental consent , they are considered a runaway ." This a quote from a deputy in the Jefferson County North District Office . I have found conflicting answers pertaining to this, however, it only takes one officer to enforce the law . My sons guidance counsellor informed him he could move out on his own, she was backed up by the assistant principal, at Fox High School . The principal at the school was very glad to have an officer of the law finally back up the law. My advice is to keep calling people in the law enforcement community until you find someone who is willing to abide by the law, do not accept the first answer and dismiss it. Persistence is the key.

Here is more information from WikiAnswers contributors:

• In Missouri a minor is defined as under the age of 18. If you are considered a minor, by law you are under "Parental Control". In Missouri, a minor may be emancipated in one of three ways: 1) your parents may give express consent to a court that they are waiving their parental rights; 2) your parents may give implied consent, which would apply in situations where you have been living on your own, supporting yourself, and for all practical purposes your parents have relinquished their parental rights; and 3) you experience a significant change in your societal status-such as an enlistment in the military or marriage. Emancipation requires the ruling of a judge.

• In the State of Missouri you are an adult at 17. You are not longer subject to juvenile laws such as curfew, truancy, or Incorrigibility. Your still in the custody of your parents though. And there is no emancipation in the state of Missouri anymore. It does not matter if the parents or child request it.

• At 17 in Missouri the police are less likely to pursue you as a runaway but you are still legally a minor and therefore under parental control.

• Things have changed in Missouri statutes were revised Aug 28 2004 now an adult is considered someone seventeen years of age or older but you kids need to think on things long and hard before you go moving out because you don't like rules etc. Its a big world out there you my be considered an adult but you still can't enter a contract legally you will find if you need medical attention you still have to call your parents if your still in school you just cant come and go as you want they still contact your parents if you are being abused seek help but if you just are bucking your parents or the system because you think the rules are stupid then your not ready to go BECAUSE for the rest of your life there is rules

• Actually the 8/24/04 RSmo: Juvenile Courts, Chapter 211, Sect: 211-021 confuses people about the legal age of majority. The statute refers to the "Adult" age of seventeen in the context of which court the person will have jurisdiction if the teen commits specified criminal offences. Besides the issue of parents being financially and legally responsible for a minor child, the state compulsory education laws must be adhered to. In Missouri the CEL is 16 so, for example, if a 17 years old left home, it is highly unlikely that the authorities would intervene w/o the parents filing a report or the teen coming to the attention of authorities for some reason.

• In Missouri you are classified an adult if you are 17 or older, and a child if you are 16 or under. You can move out in Missouri when you are 17, as long as you can support yourself without depending on someone else for things. Your parents still have full parental control over you until you are 18 however, unless you are emancipated which means they relinquished their parental rights over you.

• The legal age of majority for the state of MO. is 18. Missouri has a law that designates a 17-year old as being an "adult" for adjudication purposes only. Which means a 17-year old is considered an adult when it pertains to certain criminal offences, and therefore can be tried in an adult court. The age cited in the juvenile code does not supersede the established legal age of majority which is indeed, 18-years of age. In MO. as in all states that have enacted laws or participate in AMBER ALERT, law enforcement must take action to find the missing minor as soon as a report is made, there is not a "waiting period." Cases in which the whereabouts of the minor is known are handled differently.

• The age of majority is 18. That's when you're considered a legal adult and you can make all your own decisions. In some cases a minor can be legally emancipated. You would want to contact a family lawyer in your local area to ask about this. Otherwise you can't leave home without parental permission until you are 18-years-old.

• There is some misunderstanding about MO. age of majority law, MO. law does not have an emancipation statute as such. The age for becoming an adult in Missouri is 18. RSMO 210.110 (3) "Child" any person regardless of physical or mental condition under 18 years of age. RSMO 660.400 (1) "Adult" any individual over the age of 18 years. The laws are written as such because MO. child support orders are in most circumstances valid until the "child" is 21.

• I've found a million people asking of the age... Everyone says 17 but is there a link to some legal site of to use to prove to parents it's possible so as to avoid all the legal headache later?! I don't mean to add another question to this but come on people, someone can say anything and it may not be true! legal links please!

• In Missouri, a minor may be emancipated in one of three ways: 1) your parents may give express consent to a court that they are waiving their parental rights; 2) your parents may give implied consent, which would apply in situations where you have been living on your own, supporting yourself, and for all practical purposes your parents have relinquished their parental rights; and 3) you experience a significant change in your societal status-such as an enlistment in the military or marriage. As in Kansas, emancipation requires the ruling of a judge.

http://www.aclukswmo.org/rights/student_rights.html#emancipation

• The Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 211, Juvenile Courts, Section 211.021, revised August 28, 2004.

Definitions: Adult- means a person SEVENTEEN years of age or older; Child- Means a person under seventeen years of age. http://www.moga.state.mo.us/statutes/C200-299/2110000021.HTM

• The law cited pertains to the juvenile code, not to the legal age of majority. Under the Missouri juvenile code, a person who is at least 17-years of age is deemed eligible to be adjudicated as an adult when it pertains to specified criminal acts. The juvenile code age, also allows a judge to rule on the emancipation status of a minor w/o the necessity of using the usual prescribed procedures. The age of 17, stated in the juvenile code does not supersede the state's age of legal majority which is 18.

• Missouri age of majority for both male and female is 18. There is some confusion surrounding the issue due to the Juvenile Court Code that specifies a seventeen years old as an "adult". That law pertains to juvenile court proceedings only and has no connection to the legal age of majority.

• I am sixteen and wanting to move out myself, in a few months. I just finished asking a teacher of mine, and he used to be asocial worker in Missouri. He said that it is 17 for women, 18 for men. My friend was also counted as a run-away and my mother called the the local police department and they told her that it was seventeen for my friend, who was a female! I really hope this helps.

First answer by Macky. Last edit by Janet1990. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 238 [recommend question]