How does a 20 year old become emancipated?

[ploversail]

What is the name of your state(only U.S. law)? New York (upstate)

My 20 yr. old niece recently moved in with me from another state. She has been living on her own (actually with friends in the other state) for about a year. She would like to begin her life... by going to a community college... or attending Job Corps to learn a trade... but is running into problems because she must include information about her parents finances. Her mother refuses to even look at any forms and has suggested that my niece "just go on down to the court house and emancipate herself."

A very nice financial aide person at the community college has said that my niece would have to obtain some kind of officially recognized documentation stating there is a serious problem with the family relationship in order to be eligible for grants (TAP/Pell) etc.

There isn't a serious problem... just parental lack of interest in their daughter going to more schooling (post high school).

How should my 20 yr. old niece initiate emancipation proceedings... without incurring a lot of cost?

[ecmst12]

She's an adult, she does not need to be emancipated. If she is fully self supporting, then there is no need to include parent information on the FAFSA.

[haiku]

She's an adult, she does not need to be emancipated. If she is fully self supporting, then there is no need to include parent information on the FAFSA.

actually you have to be 24 or qualify with certain crtieria to not have to list your parents financials for FAFSA
[url=http://www.fastweb.com/financial-aid/articles/699-fafsa-and-the-independent-student]FAFSA and the Independent Student - FastWeb[/url]

[justalayman]

You are at least 24 years old on the day you file your FAFSA

You are or will be enrolled in a masters or Doctoral degree program at the beginning of the school year

You are married on the day you file your FAFSA

You are a parent

You have dependents other than your spouse who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you at the time you apply

Both your parents are deceased (or were until age 18) a ward of dependent of the court

You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training

You’re a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces

You were a foster child after the age of 13

You are an emancipated child as determined by a court judge

You are homeless or at risk of homelessness as determined by the director of a HUD approved homeless shelter, transitional program, or high school liaison

those are the criteria for determining financial dependency for the purpose of the FAFSA. Since you are over 18, you cannot be emancipated since legal emancipation deals with removing the disability of being a minor, which you are no longer saddled with.

[purplegreen]

[url=http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/fotw1011/WorksheetServlet;jsessionid=0001thKvhQzF-ffpJgKlMMpJ4TY:11efeuf6q]FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid[/url]

Dependency Status Worksheet
The results of the Dependency Status Worksheet indicate Dependent.

Based on this result, you are required to provide parental information and a parent’s signature on your FAFSA.

Parental information must be provided by your birth parents or adoptive parents. Parental information cannot be provided by grandparents, legal guardians, or foster parents.

If you meet certain special circumstances (see special circumstances FAQ for additional information), you may be able to complete the FAFSA with your information only. If you are unable to provide parental information due to one of the circumstances listed below, you may complete and submit the FAFSA with only the information about you and your finances and leave parental information blank:

you have no contact with your parents and do not know where they are (and you have not been adopted by someone else); or
you have left home due to an abusive situation; or
your parents are incarcerated; or
your parent refuses to provide their information on the FAFSA and refuses to provide you with any financial support; or
you are homeless or at risk of being homeless but are unable to answer ‘Yes’ to questions 56, 57 or 58
Your FAFSA will not be complete until the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend verifies and approves your circumstances. If you do not meet either of the above conditions, but still feel that you have special circumstances, you should contact the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend to discuss your family situation. You may print a copy of the Special Circumstances by selecting this link.

[url=http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/complete011.htm#completefaq4]FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid[/url]

[ploversail]

Thank you for your responses! We'll work with the financial aid office. Things will work out ... eventually! My niece will have to be patient, remain focused, and she will be stronger for the experience.

[BL]

NY Emancipation .

Your niece would not be under these guidelines anyways, she's considered an adult.

[url=http://www.empirestatecoalition.org/main/legal/emanc.html]Section I: Emancipation[/url]