Emancipation at 16 in Maryland

[Lilith Bathory]

I'm 15, soon to be 16 and I've been considering emancipation for a little over a year now. My main goal with this would be to get out of my family situation and to basically attempt to restart my life. I've had problems with my mom and step father abusing me starting when I was about 4, to now where my custody was transfered from my mother to my father here in Maryland. I am currently going to a therapist but it doesn't seem to be doing me much good. I have outlined a plan and have various ideas for getting emancipated but I know the main thing the court is looking for is if I have a "real" reason to be emancipated. As I said before I'm living with my dad but he's an on and off alcoholic which causes him to yell at me and say some very hurtful things, he even went so far as to throw a laptop at me once. Anyway, I want desperately out of this situation so I can finally work on improving my mental health and not just holding myself back from the edge. Again, as I previously stated I have a plan and a close friend has said I may stay with them if I help pay rent (which if I get the job I aim to obtain when my birthday passes, then I can do) I would still stay in school though and only work part time. Is there anything I can do to make this work? I know Maryland law has a gray area over emancipation of a minor so help would be much appreciated.

 

[Shadowbunny]

I'm 15, soon to be 16 and I've been considering emancipation for a little over a year now. My main goal with this would be to get out of my family situation and to basically attempt to restart my life. I've had problems with my mom and step father abusing me starting when I was about 4, to now where my custody was transfered from my mother to my father here in Maryland. I am currently going to a therapist but it doesn't seem to be doing me much good. I have outlined a plan and have various ideas for getting emancipated but I know the main thing the court is looking for is if I have a "real" reason to be emancipated. As I said before I'm living with my dad but he's an on and off alcoholic which causes him to yell at me and say some very hurtful things, he even went so far as to throw a laptop at me once. Anyway, I want desperately out of this situation so I can finally work on improving my mental health and not just holding myself back from the edge. Again, as I previously stated I have a plan and a close friend has said I may stay with them if I help pay rent (which if I get the job I aim to obtain when my birthday passes, then I can do) I would still stay in school though and only work part time. Is there anything I can do to make this work? I know Maryland law has a gray area over emancipation of a minor so help would be much appreciated.

Emancipation is not designed to be a way for a teen to get away from her parents. The ONLY way you'll be emancipated is to prove that you can fully live on your own (pay rent, utilities, medical, insurance, clothing, food, etc).

If you're being abused, report it to a trusted adult (like your therapist), so you can be removed from the home.

 

[cbg]

The court does not give a hoot what your reason is until AFTER you have already demonstrated a history of self-support. That means you need to be able to show him your ability to pay every single cent of what it takes to support you - rent, food, clothing, utilities, internet and cell phone, insurance, medical care, transportation, staples, school fees and supplies, all on your own without any assistance from anyone. In many states you have to have already been doing that before you can even file your petition. The court won't even HEAR your reasons until you have demonstrated your ability to support yourself.

 

[quincy]

Here is a link to the People's Law Library of Maryland on the emancipation of minors:

https://www.peoples-law.org/emancipation-minor

 

[FlyingRon]

Abuse is not a cause for emancipation. We don't turn the abused out to fend for themselves. If it is necessary we find alternative custody for them.
Despite what you think you know of the term, it is not defined as a way to escape parental "enslavement" but the recognition of an independent minor who needs relief from certain things denied him (such as the ability to enter into legal contracts).