Can you move out at 16 in SC?

Asked by: Mazie Gaylord IV  |  Last update: August 10, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (49 votes)

Generally, your parents have control of you until your 18th birthday, when you reach the age of majority, unless you become emancipated before your 18th birthday.

Can I move out at 16 without parental consent?

In the United States, the minimum age to legally move out without parental consent is typically 18.

Can I stop living with my parents at 16?

You essentially need a court order to leave your parents before turning 18. Or you have to have their permission to leave. In some states you can petition the court for emancipation.

What can you do at 16 in SC?

If you are 16 or 17 years old, you may work in any occupation except those declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor. The 17 Hazardous Occupations Orders for non-farm work deal with the following: Manufacturing or storing explosives. Driving a motor vehicle and being an outside helper.

What is the age to move out in South Carolina?

S.C. Code§ 63-5-20(A) (emphasis added). The plain and ordinary language of the statute indicates that a parent must support his or her child so long as the child is a minor or until or the child gets married. The child is a minor until he or she reaches the age of majority which is eighteen years old.

How to Move Out at 16 Without Parental Consent? How Can I Move Out at 16? How Can You Move Out at 16

20 related questions found

Can a 16 year old leave home in SC?

Generally, your parents have control of you until your 18th birthday, when you reach the age of majority, unless you become emancipated before your 18th birthday.

Can a 16 year old choose which parent to live with in South Carolina?

Once the child is 12 years old, they can start to voice their preference of parent to live with, but the court will still take into account the child's age, ability to show preference, maturity, and their experience in choosing which parent to live with.

Can a 16 year old quit school in SC?

You may legally drop out in South Carolina once you've reached your 17th birthday. The state also allows you to leave school at age 16 if: a court has found that continued attendance wouldn't serve your best interests or would be disruptive for the school.

Is 16 the age of consent in South Carolina?

Consent Is Missing When:

A person is younger than the age of 16 (South Carolina law). It is obtained through physical force, violence, duress, intimidation, coercion or the threat (expressed or implied) of bodily injury.

What can I do if I turn 16?

What Can You Do When You Turn 16?
  1. Drive a Car. One of the most eagerly anticipated milestones of turning 16 is the opportunity to start learning how to drive. ...
  2. Get a Job. ...
  3. Pay Income Tax. ...
  4. Give Medical Consent. ...
  5. Open a Bank Account. ...
  6. Get Married. ...
  7. Donate Blood. ...
  8. Change Your Name.

What can I do if my 16 year old refuses to come home?

These include:
  1. Use a graduated system to rectify the situation.
  2. Open up a reasonable line of communication with the noncustodial parent.
  3. Ascertain why the teen does not want to come home.
  4. Consider the age of the teen and the possibility for a change.
  5. Involve law enforcement.
  6. Seek a court order.
  7. Seek legal assistance.

Can my parents check my phone at 16?

While parents certainly differ in their opinions about this question, legally speaking, it is not child abuse for a parent to look through a child's phone.

What to do if a 16 year old leaves home?

Call the police. - This sends the message to teenagers that it is not okay to leave home without permission. - The police are responsible for the safety of citizenry; your child is not safe if you do not know where he is. - Parents are responsible for what happens to their child even when he is not at home.

Can your parents control you at 16?

The law gives parents the responsibility to control their children, but does very little in providing the means of control for 16- and 17-year olds. Parents are also responsible for certain property damage that their children may cause.

Can you run away at 16?

A child is considered to be a runaway when he or she is 14 or under or mentally disabled and leaves home without permission and stays away for at least one night or is 15 or older and is away from home without permission for two nights and elects not to return home.

What does emancipated mean?

1. : to free from restraint, control, or the power of another. especially : to free from bondage. 2. : to release from parental care and responsibility and make sui juris.

What state has the age of consent at 16?

States where the age of consent is 16 (31): Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, ...

What is the lowest age of consent in the US?

The lowest age of consent in the U.S. is 16. Other states have an age of consent of either 17 or 18 years old.

What are the Romeo and Juliet laws in South Carolina?

Romeo and Juliet clauses or laws are based on how the ages are listed in the statutes, and it exists because it does not criminalize two people that are very close in age. In South Carolina, anyone under the age of 17 years old is considered a minor. The age of consent for sexual intercourse is 16 years old.

Can you leave home at 16 in South Carolina?

Family Lawyer: Ashley R., Esq. Unfortunately, no, since South Carolina does not have a standard process for emancipation. You would be considered a runaway and they could have the police pick you up and bring you home. Family Lawyer: Ashley R., Esq.

Can I drop out at 16?

When Can You Drop Out Of High School? In general, you have the legal obligation to attend school until you are 18 years old. If you are not attending school regularly, you are considered truant. Truancy is a legal offense that may have many serious ramifications for you and your parents or legal guardian(s).

At what age can a child refuse to see a parent in SC?

There is no set age at which a child can refuse visitation in South Carolina. However, once a child reaches their teens, forcing them to visit with a noncustodial parent can be difficult. South Carolina mandates that a noncustodial parent receive a minimum amount of visitation.

Can a 16 year old decide where to live?

In California, children cannot choose where to live until they are 18 years old, but their preferences may be taken into account in custody decisions. If a child is 14 years or older, the court must listen to their opinion regarding where they would like to live unless it is deemed not in their best interest.

Can a 16 year old be emancipated in South Carolina?

South Carolina does not have a specific statute providing an emancipation procedure. A minor can petition the circuit court in the county where they live for a declaration of emancipation.

Can I choose where I want to live when I'm 16?

In order to live with a friend at 16, you will need to be legally emancipated or get your parents' consent.