When can I leave home legally in New York State? I live in upstate NY.
I just turned 16 just moved in with my step-father in the Bronx with
my mother's permission. In the future, if she demands I move back in
with her, can I refuse and remain with my step-father?

Hello richroddy-ga,

I obtained the answer to this question from Empire State Coalition:

"As a general rule, a young person under the age of 18 cannot leave
home. The police can take a youth under 18 who leaves home without
parental permission into custody and return the child home. However, a
youth under 18 may go to a certified runaway shelter for up to 30
days, without parental consent, and may not be forced to return home.
For those 30 days, the shelter is the youth's home."
SOURCE: http://www.empirestatecoalition.org/rights.html

Sorry that this is probably not the answer you want to hear. 

Good luck and all the best,

tisme-ga


Search Strategy:

new york state "leave home"

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Clarification of Answer by tisme-ga on 28 Aug 2006 17:31 PDT

Also, just to clarify: If she has full custody of you, you can be
forced to return to her home.

tisme-ga

This might also be of interest.
http://www.nyclu.org/rrp_rppt1a.html