Legal Question in Family Law in North Carolina

I live in the state of North Carolina. I am 17 years of age. I am tired of living with my parents. I am tired of constantly oppressing my emotions just to avoid conflict so that I could live peacefully. Child Protective Services considers this home to be "safe."

I turn 18 in March.

My question is this:

Whenever I turn 18, do I have the right to move out even though I have not graduated?

I am currently looking for a job and my first purchase I wish to make is on or toward a car. I will have to pay for my own insurance. I am fully aware that I will have to pay everything and I plan on doing so.

Immediately when I turn 18, I wish to find an apartment and move out of my current house. However, my birthday is in March and graduation is in June. My question is can this be done? Can my parents legally do anything to keep me from moving out on account of particular school paperwork needing guardian signatures? Does freedom when one turns 18 only apply to those who have graduated high school?


Asked on 5/29/13, 4:47 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Most everyone goes through this at around your age so don't feel like you are the only one. Yes, at 18 you can give your parents the finger and be off into the big bad world and no one can stop you. However, you won't have a high school degree yet so your prospects of getting a job (a legal job anyway) are limited. To answer your question can this be done - No. The odds are extremely against success unless you join the military or have a massed significant savings or by some other method come into a significant bank roll. Otherwise, I don't think you are going to like the things you will have to do just to survive.

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Answered on 5/30/13, 12:10 pm


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