I am 16, in Maryland, And Want to be Emancipated...

[cbg]

Here's the thing.

Until you are 18, your parents have complete and total control of where you live. On your 18th birthday, you can walk out the door and never come back. But until that time, you do not live anywhere that your parents do not give you permission to live.

The only exception to that is if you are removed from the home by the state. In which instance you live where the state says you live.

Emancipation is a non-starter for the reasons already described.

There is no time prior to your 18th birthday that the choice of where you live is completely within your control.

So your best bet at this point is to report, and keep reporting, every time there is abuse. Buy a pre-paid Trac phone and keep it at school.

 

[Kaynubs]

So your friends couldn't dial your local police department for some reason? Hell, I'm half the country away an I could have called your local police department. Are you that technologically ignorant?

It is a bit odd your parents would boot you out of the door and you would have your school computer and school bag in hand. Very unbelievable.

I did not know that you can contact local police from other areas...And no, my parents and I were at a disagreement before they made me go outside and the rest happened. I keep my computer bag on me at all times because its the only form of communication I have that they cant take from me. I had it when I went outside and I even had it when I talked to the police at the WaWa. I don't really understand why you don't believe me, but it upsets me that you have nothing better to do than try to point out things that I haven't explained, in an attempt to make my situation seem unbelievable. I'm trying to get help here, not debate about the reality of my situation, which is 100% true. I won't say I don't have my bias, everybody does, and you have obviously displayed yours, but nothing I have stated here has been anything but the truth. I can't even really see the point of attempting to state a false situation on here, other than for attention. I'm not looking for any attention, just guidance.

 

[Kaynubs]

Here's the thing.

Until you are 18, your parents have complete and total control of where you live. On your 18th birthday, you can walk out the door and never come back. But until that time, you do not live anywhere that your parents do not give you permission to live.

The only exception to that is if you are removed from the home by the state. In which instance you live where the state says you live.

Emancipation is a non-starter for the reasons already described.

There is no time prior to your 18th birthday that the choice of where you live is completely within your control.

So your best bet at this point is to report, and keep reporting, every time there is abuse. Buy a pre-paid Trac phone and keep it at school.

Thank you. I have actually tried that, but they wont allow. They have taken every form of communication I buy or have.

 

[Shadowbunny]

Alright, so say that is gospel. What are my options? For a forum, this is not very helpful. It appears people hear would rather shut down a conversation than participate in helping. What can I do? Eliminate the possibility of me staying at my home, because at this rate, I would rather kill myself then live under these conditions, and that is not me being childish, I'm trying to give a picture of how bad I need to leave. Is there any options for me?

If you're suicidal, call 1-800-273-8255.

Or talk to a guidance counselor, teacher, school nurse or other trusted adult who can help you navigate your world. Can't get in touch with your case worker? Then call your CW's supervisor.

You'll be 18 soon. I know 2 years sounds like a long time, but it isn't. If you're unable to get your parents to agree to let you live with someone else, then you'll need to use the next 2 years wisely as you plan your "escape" route once you've turned 18. Do great in school (you're obviously bright and articulate, so I assume your grades are good). Get scholarships. Make plans. You will make it through this.

 

[justalayman]

I did not know that you can contact local police from other areas...And no, my parents and I were at a disagreement before they made me go outside and the rest happened. I keep my computer bag on me at all times because its the only form of communication I have that they cant take from me. I had it when I went outside and I even had it when I talked to the police at the WaWa. I don't really understand why you don't believe me, but it upsets me that you have nothing better to do than try to point out things that I haven't explained, in an attempt to make my situation seem unbelievable. I'm trying to get help here, not debate about the reality of my situation, which is 100% true. I won't say I don't have my bias, everybody does, and you have obviously displayed yours, but nothing I have stated here has been anything but the truth. I can't even really see the point of attempting to state a false situation on here, other than for attention. I'm not looking for any attention, just guidance.

You didn't know you can call places like California, Florida, Texas, or the other side of your own state from a phone? You simply dial the number.

If you don't have long distance service on your phone you dial 911 and tell the 911 responder the situation. They will either get you in contact with the appropriate 911 center or actually sit there and relay your conversation to the appropriate 911 center and relay their communications back to you.

And what makes you think they can't take your computer or computer bag from you?


My bias, if you want to call it that, is due to your statements being so unrealistic your story is not very believable. To suggest your parents are currently being criminally prosecuted for child abuse yet you are allowed to remain in the home, under their control, with no reasonable contact by cps, is just so improbable I have difficulty believing it. When a parent is being prosecuted, criminally, for child abuse, it would be negligent on the state to allow you to remain in the home. While anything is possible, the fact is, it's unrealistic and unlikely. Add that to the fact you have shown yourself to be incorrigible, well, it sounds like a bull story.

 

[CTU]

I understand all this, yet if I am not mistaken, it is possible for the child to set up living arrangements. At least, that is what I have been told in Maryland. I have an adult friend who has been kind to me throughout all this, and they went to the courts awhile ago, several days to be exact, and I was told that if my parents agree to let me be emancipated, meaning give up their rights as guardians and allow her custody, than the law permits that. That is what several attorneys have stated.

I strongly doubt that you - or your "friend - have been told by any attorneys what you've stated here.

(Because it's flat out wrong)

 

[Kaynubs]

I strongly doubt that you - or your "friend - have been told by any attorneys what you've stated here.

(Because it's flat out wrong)

Well, all I know is what I've been told.

 

[CTU]

Well, all I know is what I've been told.

Either someone is misunderstanding, or someone isn't telling the truth.

Regardless, you will not be emancipated and moving out will happen only if your parents agree.

End of story.

 

[Kaynubs]

You didn't know you can call places like California, Florida, Texas, or the other side of your own state from a phone? You simply dial the number.

If you don't have long distance service on your phone you dial 911 and tell the 911 responder the situation. They will either get you in contact with the appropriate 911 center or actually sit there and relay your conversation to the appropriate 911 center and relay their communications back to you.

And what makes you think they can't take your computer or computer bag from you?


My bias, if you want to call it that, is due to your statements being so unrealistic your story is not very believable. To suggest your parents are currently being criminally prosecuted for child abuse yet you are allowed to remain in the home, under their control, with no reasonable contact by cps, is just so improbable I have difficulty believing it. When a parent is being prosecuted, criminally, for child abuse, it would be negligent on the state to allow you to remain in the home. While anything is possible, the fact is, it's unrealistic and unlikely. Add that to the fact you have shown yourself to be incorrigible, well, it sounds like a bull story.

Everything I have stated has been truth. If you choose not to believe me, then that is your decision. It doesn't make the situation any less real. I came here to get help, not to argue. And I don't believe they can take it from me because I was homeschooled before, now I go to a public high school. My parents were forced to sign a contract upon my return (not actually legally bound-my cps worker thought it would be a good idea anyway) stating that I have the right attend the public school as long as I follow the other conditions, which I have. If they were to take it from me, they would be keeping me from part of my schooling. (A majority of the work is done through google classroom, which is why the school gives out laptops). And regarding the 911 thing, I honestly thought until now that when you called 911 that it only gave you the local station and that was it. I don't have a familiar history with such acts. The average person only calls the police once or twice in their life, I believe. (That may be an incorrect statistic, but I believe it was something close.)

 

[Kaynubs]

If you're suicidal, call 1-800-273-8255.

Or talk to a guidance counselor, teacher, school nurse or other trusted adult who can help you navigate your world. Can't get in touch with your case worker? Then call your CW's supervisor.

You'll be 18 soon. I know 2 years sounds like a long time, but it isn't. If you're unable to get your parents to agree to let you live with someone else, then you'll need to use the next 2 years wisely as you plan your "escape" route once you've turned 18. Do great in school (you're obviously bright and articulate, so I assume your grades are good). Get scholarships. Make plans. You will make it through this.

Thank you or the advice. I would prefer not to stay, but if that is the only option, I will make use of your suggestions. I have recently talked with guidance counselors about transferring to honors classes, and I am in a few of them. Regarding being suicidal, I have been getting help through my friends.

 

[justalayman]

are you going to hold up the contract thinking it will prevent your parents from taking your computer? The contract may result in the eventual return of the computer but it surely won't prevent them from taking it if they choose to.

While your friends are good to have around you, if you are serious about the suicide thing, you need trained psych assistance. Too many kids have not been successful in preventing a friend from committing suicide. Some of them have actually pushed the person towards suicide with their attempts at help.

Re: 911

If in actual need always just dial 911. I happen to live in near a state line but as well there a couple different 911 "territories" so when you call, it is not uncommon to be commencted to the wrong 911 center. They regularly transfer calls or are intermediaries relaying info back and forth.

 

[CdwJava]

Yesterday my parents locked me out of my house and got in the car and drove off without telling me where they were going or how long they were going to be gone. After several hours and talking to several friends through email,sitting outside my house in the dark, I decided it would be best to notify the police so I could locate them, etc, so I walked to the nearest establishment, a WaWa, and used their phone. When the police came, they found my parents, but my parents twisted the situation into making it seem like I ran away, which is unbelievably not the case. Instead of getting help, the cop gave me a long warning about running off.

Soooo ... your parents gave you the bum rush out of the house, locked the door behind all three of you, and then just got in the car and left?

Or, were you already out of the house having left for somewhere on your own, and THEN they left?

Somehow I believe that it is the latter and not the former that occurred.

Emancipation is unlikely in your situation:
https://www.peoples-law.org/emancipation-minor

The only avenue legally available to you is to work with the CPS worker who has been assigned to you, and that will not result in emancipation, but, could result in your being placed into foster care if the abuse is credible.

Now, I am curious ... you say your parents are facing TRIAL for their abuse of you. Okay. Do you know this? Have they been arrested? Have they been to court? Have YOU been to court to testify as a victim? Or, has it simply been that you made a police report?

 

[Kaynubs]

Soooo ... your parents gave you the bum rush out of the house, locked the door behind all three of you, and then just got in the car and left?

Or, were you already out of the house having left for somewhere on your own, and THEN they left?

Somehow I believe that it is the latter and not the former that occurred.

Emancipation is unlikely in your situation:
https://www.peoples-law.org/emancipation-minor

The only avenue legally available to you is to work with the CPS worker who has been assigned to you, and that will not result in emancipation, but, could result in your being placed into foster care if the abuse is credible.

Now, I am curious ... you say your parents are facing TRIAL for their abuse of you. Okay. Do you know this? Have they been arrested? Have they been to court? Have YOU been to court to testify as a victim? Or, has it simply been that you made a police report?

The first scenario is correct. Which is why it was such a big deal. And my cps worker said that the process is underway to schedule a process. It will be a few months before I will have to testify against them. And yes, my mother has been arrested and released. My cps worker told me that it will be months before the trial probably.

 

[CdwJava]

It seems very unusual for you to still be in the home when your parents are accused of psychically abusing you! Something is missing, here ...

What was the nature of the abuse?

 

[stealth2]

You have no neighbors in RB? You know - homes to the left/right/across the street where you could knock and ask to use their phone or that they call the police for you?

You need to try and understand that those responding to you know how things tend to work, and there is something missing in your scenario.