Michigan  |  Juvenile Dependency

You don't say why you want to move out, what your plans/option are, what your parents think of this, etc. Do you have a job? How will you support yourself? Will you be living on the streets, or couch-hopping between friends' homes? How close are you to turning 18 (a week, or 11-1/2 months)? Etc.

Are you asking for 'permission', or a legal opinion? We can't give you permission.

Legally, no -- you cannot "move out" if it is something that your parents do not want you to do. Until you become legally emancipated, your parents have the legal responsibility to support and raise you, which includes providing for your basic needs (food, clothing, shelter). If they don't do that, THEY can be brought into court on neglect charges. Until you are emancipated, you have no legal ability to sign a contract (like a lease or a loan), or even decide on your medical care (like if you need to be operated on). Your parents do that for you.

Until you turn 18, if you disobey your parents' reasonable commands (including "live at home"), YOU can be brought into the family court to respond to an "incorrigible youth" petition, and if that is granted then a family court judge assumes control of your life ... and the consequences of violating the Judge's orders are much worse than disobeying your parents.

Once you become legally emancipated -- 99% of the time it happens when you turn 18 yrs old but can happen sooner, such as the rare instances when a judge grants an emancipation petition because the 16-17 yr old has shown emotional maturity AND the ability to provide for 100% of his/her material needs -- then your parents no longer have the responsibility to support you. That's your job. Now, most parents do not kick kids to the street on their 18th birthdays. But before you burn that bridge with your folks by impetuously running away / moving out, why not use the time you have under their care to prepare yourself for taking on the responsibility to provide for yourself?! This remaining time you have without that responsibility is a luxury ... and you can work toward your 'goal' by doing mature things, like getting and keeping a job, saving money and not blowing it all on iPods and CDs, etc.

"Moving out" like you propose is fraught with problems, not the least of which are (i) creating a schism in your family, and (ii) exposing yourself to the risk of being victimized by people you think might help you (and in my experience, young females like yourself get victimized a lot more often than boys do). So, if you want my opinion, I urge you to not "move out" at 17, whether you are a boy or a girl.