In the state of Washington if you are 16 and have a child can you legally move out without parental consent?

Answer 1

Contrary to popular belief, simply having a child does not make a person emancipated. However, in WA, at 16, you can petition the court for a declaration of emancipation. You will have to prove that you are capable of supporting yourself. The court can deny it, and if your parents oppose it then they will deny it unless you can provide clear and convincing evidence that it's in your best interest to be emancipated. It's not a quick and easy process.

This is "quick and easy," JUST LEAVE, the police won't do anything about it. Last year my FIFTEEN year old niece moved in with a friend and her family against my sister and her husband's wishes. They called the police who told them "there is nothing that can be done." Washington considers a 15-year old runaway as a "status crime," a crime based upon some status; here, age. The police told my sister that since they can't make an 18 year old go home, they can't make a 15 year old go home, either. I don't know when this idiotic theory ends, but I'm ALMOST certain they can "discriminate" against a SIX year old and make him go home.