Can an 18-year-old move out of their parents' home if they are still in high school?

from our contributors:

Yes you can move out.. it doesn't matter if you are in high school or not. You are a legal adult and are perfectly capable of making your own decisions.

Advice from FAQ Farmers:

Have you thought about becoming emancipated? For more info see

steveshorr.com/child.support.military.service.htm then click on the links for emancipation

If you are 18, you're legally an adult and may leave your parents home regardless of when you graduate from highschool. Your date of graduation has no legal significance. You don't even have to go to school if you don't want to.

In New York State: If a minor becomes emancipated the parents are no longer liable for the support of the child, as they are now presumed to be self-supporting.

There are no states which legally require someone who has reached the age of eighteen to graduate from high school before they can leave the family home. There are however four states where the age of majority is higher than 18. Those states are Alabama and Nebraska 19, Mississippi and Pennsylvania 18, these states would still require parental permission for the person to leave the family home. The exceptions are marriage and/or enlistment in the military, both of which usually require the permission of parent(s) or legal guardian. Any actions that can be taken in the event that a minor leaves w/o permission depends upon the parents or legal guardian and/or the laws of the state of residency.

If you are 18, you can do whatever you want. But you are also responsible for your actions.

You, at 18 are NOT perfectly capable of making your own decisions IF you have a history of drug use, a juvenile arrest or have been suspended from school. My son just turned 18 and will be a senior in high school. He has demonstrated all these behaviors and more. We want to transfer him out of his current high school to a school 50 miles south. He refuses to go and has disappeared from our home for a week. He has the maturity of a 7 year old. Thank goodness, according to the school, parents retain all rights (and legal responsibilies) over the child even after the child turns 18 as long as he is still in high school. I have no doubt he'll come home when he gets hungry. Advice: It's a cold cold cruel world out there. Find a good counsellor to help you get along at home...while you are still covered under your parent's med policy.