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You are here: Families & Children > Emancipation > Emancipation Questions & Answers
Click on a question below:
What is emancipation?
How do I get emancipated?
Is emancipation forever?
Do I have other choices?
Where can I get more information?
Where can I get legal help?
What is emancipation?
Emancipation is a legal way for children to become adults before they're 18. Once a child is emancipated, his or her parents don't have custody or control of him or her anymore.
If you are emancipated, you can do some things without your parent's permission, like:
- Get medical care;
- Apply for a work permit;
- Sign up for school or college; and
- Live where you want to.
| If you are emancipated, you will give up the right to be supported by your parents. |
Even if you are emancipated:
- You must go to school;
- You can't get married without your parent's permission; and
- You will go to juvenile court if you break the law.
| Note: If you have a legal guardian, all of the information in this section about "parents" applies to your legal guardian and your case, too. |
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How do I get emancipated?
There are 3 ways to get emancipated:
- Get married. You need permission from your parents and the court.
- Join the armed forces. You need permission from your parents, and the armed forces must accept you.
Get a declaration of emancipation from a judge. To get a declaration of emancipation, you have to prove ALL of these things:
- You are at least 14 years old.
- You don't want to live with your parents. Your parents don't mind if you move out.
- You can handle your own money.
- You have a legal way to make money.
- Emancipation would be good for you.
Click here to learn about the steps get a declaration of emancipation.
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Is emancipation forever?
Usually, yes. But the court can cancel your emancipation if you lie to the court or if you can't support yourself anymore.
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Do I have other choices?
Yes. If you don't want to live with your parents you can:
- Get counseling or mediation with your parents;
- Go to live with another adult (like an aunt, uncle, grandparent, or family friend);
- Get help from public or private agencies; or
- Make an agreement with your parents to live somewhere else.
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Last modified: 01/05/2009
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