Am I allowed to live with a friend at age 16?
I will be 16 in feb of 2010, and I do not feel safe at home because my father physically abuses me. Since I was 8 yrs old, we have had Child Protective Services cases open again and again. The last time he hit me, he ended up beating me, kicking me, stomping on my face, and throwing me around like a rag doll. I just want to let everyone know that I am not the teenager who is melodramatic, I am not exaggerating on anything. My stepmom is not married to my father, and I know if I want to, I can tell the courts (if she moves out of my father's house and breaks up with him) that I want to live with my stepmom for obvious and valid reasons. My best friend knows about it, and her dad knows mine through a previous work they both were employed at. Her family is willing to take me in if necessary. Am I allowed to choose to like them if I have these valid reasons? (I live in northern new jersey)