Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

Hello. I am currently a 16 year old girl who is living in a tough spot at home. My family currently just found out I am bisexual and does not and will not ever support me. They have put me into counseling for no reason and is making my life miserable. It already was before this, but now it is worse. My dad has hit me before and I wouldn't put it past him to do it again. They won't let me do anything and have not allowed me to be friends with any of my old ones. My dad is a coach and is at school with me at all times and he walks me to every class so I won't stop and talk to my former friends. Also, at lunch he makes me go with him. Everything I do has to be monitored by him. My step mom does nothing to stop him either. I am turing 17 in January and currently do not have any form of income. Due to the fact my dad won't ever allow me to do anything. To my understating, the Texas law states that at age 17 you are allowed to legally move out if you can support yourself. I do not have the money as of right now to support myself, but my girlfriend and other family members are on my side and are willing to help out. If they help me is it still okay if I move out in January? Or is there other ways around this. I really can't live in this situation anymore.


Asked on 11/07/16, 6:15 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Thomas Daley KoonsFuller PC

There are two answers to this. If there are NO court orders relating to you, then you can move out at 17 with a friend and the police cannot force you to move back as long as you let your parents know where you are.

The fact that you mention a step mom makes me think your parents are divorced, in which case there would be a court order relating to you. If there is a court order, then you cannot move out against your parents' wishes unless you are emancipated, which, as you point out, is not possible for you due to your not being able to support yourself.

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Answered on 11/15/16, 1:00 pm


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