If you’re reading this from outside the U.S., the age might be different. In Japan, it’s 20. In Germany, it’s 18 with some weird exceptions. Check your local laws—I’m a writer, not a global passport officer. Just know that everywhere, there’s a moment when you go from “child” to “person who has to buy their own toilet paper.”
And in some places, leaving home at 16 is totally fine if you’re married. (Which raises a whole other set of questions, but we’re keeping it light here!) Point is: know your region, or risk an awkward conversation with a friendly neighborhood judge.
