Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Make sure you come of age early
• Method 2 of 3: Moving out of home without an early age of consent procedure
• Method 3 of 3: Independent living
• Warnings

If you decide to move out before you're 18, that's a big decision. Depending on the stage of life you are in now, there are probably several reasons why you are thinking about moving out. Take a moment to list all your options before you take any action, because then you can leave home safely and legally.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Make sure you come of age early

1. Find out what the age of majority is in your country of residence. If you want to move out of your home and be completely independent of your parents or guardians, you can also consider becoming independent through legal channels. While you usually have to be 18 to decide yourself in order to be of legal age, there are options to do that sooner, without complicated procedures.
   • In some countries, you can be considered of age by getting married at the age of 16.
   • In some countries, you can be considered of age if you join the military before the age of 18.
   • You will need to get your parent (s) or guardian's consent for your early age status, and they will likely have to sign various forms showing that they actually agree to this status.
2. Provide a safe and stable income. If you want to be independent and of age at sixteen, you must be able to prove in court that you have an income. It is important to realize that there are laws against child labor for minors, which prevent adolescents from working too many hours.
3. Look for a safe place to live. While you are in the process of coming of age, it is important that you think carefully about a future place to live. Sometimes conditions apply to rental contracts; the rules for minors are not the same everywhere.
   • In some countries, an adolescent can legally invalidate any signed contract that is not necessary for the continuation of his or her daily life.
4. Make a plan so that you can graduate from school. Maybe you should finish school; this depends on where you live. Make sure your home is close to a school so that you don't fall behind.
5. Fill in all the papers necessary for your path to independence. You need to fill in a number of forms in order to be able to go through the process of coming of age well. Many of these forms must be signed by your parent (s) or a guardian. While the forms may vary by country and city, you should still be able to find all the forms online yourself.
   • Depending on the place where you want to live, some forms must be officially signed by a third person, by a notary or lawyer for example.
6. Apply for an early age procedure in court. Once you have properly checked that you meet all the conditions that apply in the country where you live to become a minor early, send your request to the court in the municipality or region where you live. It is required that you can prove during the procedure that you have a place to live and an income.
   • You can use a statement showing your financial situation and showing that you have an income.
   • The early age of consent procedure can sometimes take more than six months.

Method 2 of 3: Moving out of home without an early age of consent procedure

1. First try to reach an agreement with your parent (s) or guardian. If you want to move out and don't want to go through the early age of consent procedure, you can try to reach an agreement with your parent (s) or guardian. Your parents may want to support you in your desire to leave home; this depends on your situation. It may also help if you have an idea of ​​where you want to live before discussing moving out of the house.
   • If possible, it is also a good idea to move in with someone else, or to move in with someone else. Being alone for too long can negatively affect your physical and emotional health.
2. If your parents don't allow you to live on your own, ask if you can live with a relative. If your parents don't agree to you living on your own, you may want to consider living with a family member. It is then necessary that you enter into a conversation with both your parents or guardian, and the family member with whom you want to live, so that decisions can be made about this.
   • In most countries it is not allowed for a minor child to live with a relative, that is, if the parents have not given permission to do so.
3. See if you can move in with a friend you trust if you don't have a family that you can turn to. If your parent or guardian doesn't want you to live alone or with a family member, talk to a friend you trust and see if you can move in with him or her. You could offer to pay rent for the place to live, or to do work at home in exchange for the place to live. Even if you are only allowed to stay there for a few weeks or months, it would still be a nice temporary way out of your parental home.
   • If you come to live with the family of a friend of yours, see if everyone in that family is happy that you are (temporarily) part of that family.
4. Don't try to run away from home. No matter how frustrating your current living situation is, running away is not a good option. It is not advisable to make an important decision in your life unprepared. Teenagers who run away from home are at high risk of becoming addicted to drugs or engaging in criminal activities.
   • If you are seriously considering running away from home, consider calling a helpline or talking to someone you trust about your situation first.

Method 3 of 3: Independent living

1. Find information about the rules for renting a house for minors in your country of residence. If you have decided to live independently, it is important to look for a place to live in your neighborhood. It is important that you are aware of the legal and financial obligations when it comes to renting a home, because not every home can be rented to minors.
   • You may want to sign a lease with one of your parents or guardian (or another adult you trust) in case you run into financial difficulties.
2. Search online for rental homes. Via Direct Wonen, for example, you can search for houses in many different cities. If you are going to search online for a rental, make sure you know roughly when you can move into the house and how long you want to stay there.
   • If you have trouble finding an apartment, but you still want to live on your own, look for shelter options and youth groups in your area where you might be able to go.
3. Find a part-time job so you can support yourself. Due to rules that prevent adolescents from working too many hours, you can only start working full-time when you are an adult, and that is in the Netherlands when you are 18 years old. Search online for part-time jobs near you. Most employment agencies and employers require you to state your age.
   • You can also earn money without having a permanent job. Walking the dog for people and offering yourself as a gardener are ways you can make some extra money.
4. Set a budget so that you learn to manage your money. You may have some bills every month, such as electricity, water, rent, and food; that depends on your situation. See if you can put together a budget in which you can set aside money for your fixed costs, so that you can save it financially yourself.
   • Create a spreadsheet of your budget with Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. This makes it easier to calculate the costs you spend every month on rent, food, and other costs.
   • Once you've set aside money for your regular expenses, you can start saving for fun things (like shopping, snacks, etc.)
5. Develop a network that you can fall back on. Although living on your own is a sign that you are already very independent, it is also important that you stay in contact with other people. If you don't have family or friends to contact if you have concerns or problems, you may want to connect with others through group activities, such as a sport or another club.
   • Many public places (such as churches and community centers) offer activities that allow you to have a social life.

Warnings

• If you are in danger because of your current way or place of life, call 112 or the Kindertelefoon.