Minors Rights please help me!

I am a 16 year old girl from Iowa and i want to move out of my parents home and live on my own. My parents are great people but I feel like a prisoner in my own home. They have set up a video camera to watch my every move and I THINK they are even recording my telephone conversations. Now I would like some privacy. Right now I'm grounded and I'm not giving my parents trouble out of respect to them. I have thought about running away but before i go to extreams i thought i would look into any legal ways of getting out of the house. I really hate the fact that i cant see or talk to any of my friends or that my parents wont let me get a job. I love my parents but they dont understand me they make fun of me for trying to find faith ( i've been studying up on religion alot since i've been grounded to pass the time ) but my friends do understand me i dont think i can take this much longer. I think im mature and responsible enough to get and hold a job and finish high school without my parents help. Please help me with some legal advise on emancipation laws in Iowa. Thank You!

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by GirlyGirl:
[b]I am a 16 year old girl from Iowa and i want to move out of my parents home and live on my own. My parents are great people but I feel like a prisoner in my own home. They have set up a video camera to watch my every move and I THINK they are even recording my telephone conversations. Now I would like some privacy. Right now I'm grounded and I'm not giving my parents trouble out of respect to them. I have thought about running away but before i go to extreams i thought i would look into any legal ways of getting out of the house. I really hate the fact that i cant see or talk to any of my friends or that my parents wont let me get a job. I love my parents but they dont understand me they make fun of me for trying to find faith ( i've been studying up on religion alot since i've been grounded to pass the time ) but my friends do understand me i dont think i can take this much longer. I think im mature and responsible enough to get and hold a job and finish high school without my parents help. Please help me with some legal advise on emancipation laws in Iowa. Thank You![/b]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


My response:

Since you're writing to a site that offers legal advice, my only suggestion to you is to hotfoot it to an attorney for a consultation, and do one of two things:

1. Find out about "emancipation".

2. Find out about divorcing your parents.

However, an even better idea, at least at first, is to go to your Department of Social Services for advice on what to do, and if moving away is even viable for you.

IAAL


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Hi my name is Heather and I am also 16, and in a simular situtation. I have filed for emancipation and was denied but I am going to file another petition. I think it would be great to here about your progress and I could probally answer some questions you have if your case has not yet been completed. You can e-mail me if you like @ Opa831@hotmail.com I hope to hear from you soon, its relieving to find a reasonable person in a simular desperate situtation, being punished for attempting to do what's best for her. It's good to now I'm not alone in my quest.


[Edited by Opa831 on 11-25-2000 at 10:19 PM]

girlygirl, you sound like you love and respect your parents but feel tied down. Could it be they are trying to do what is best for their child? Could you be more explicit about your situation? Do you have a boyfriend? What prompted them to feel they needed to video tape you and record your conversations? It sounds as if there may be two sides to this story. I had an older child in my custody that came to me very wild and unruly. I laid down the rules and told her she was expected to follow them. Was I strict? Yes, to a degree. Did she hate me for it at times? Most certainly! She is now 21, married, and has a baby. She has told me that she is glad I was the opposite of her mother, and gave her boundaries. In essence, she told me I did the right thing, although, at the time she didn't think so. Give us more information to go on. Emancipation is an option. But it will be hard to prove you are capable of taking care of yourself when you currently do not have a job. I realize you stated that your parents won't let you get a job. Can you tell us why?
Why are you currently grounded?
DO NOT RUN AWAY! I did at the age of 14. It was not a pleasant experience, however, I did have the good sense to go to a runaway shelter, but they were legally bound to contact my parents after so many days. I experienced many things that were down right horrible. DO NOT RUN AWAY!!!
You can email me from this board if you would like to converse. Billyjean