I am under age 18, and I want to become emancipated from my parents/guardians. What do I do?
Emancipation is an option for some youth, though emancipations are rare. Emancipation is a legal process that frees a young person age 14-17 from the custody and control of their parent(s) or guardian. Minors can be emancipated if they enter into a valid marriage, are on active duty in the US Armed Forces, or have received a declaration of emancipation from a court. The requirements to receive a declaration of emancipation include:
- Child is at least 14 years old
- Child willingly doesn’t live with their parents or guardian, and the parents or guardian are okay with this or are not actively trying to get the child back
- Child manages his/her own finances
- Child’s source of income is legal
- Emancipation would be in the child’s best interests