Emancipation of a Minor

[babybl408]

What is the name of your state? Virginia

In Va you can legally become an Emancipated Minor at the age of 16.
I am currently 16 going on 17. And i pay for all of my bills, insurance(health, and vechical), cell phone, YMCA membership, gas for my car, clothing, etc... But everything has to be in my Mothers name as well as mine. My car wont be legally mine until i am 18...my cell phone, credit card, bank accounts, all have my mother's name on the title and are also in her control.
I have already graduated and i am currently going to a community college. Where i am taking 3 classes, with the help of finantial aid and i am pulling two B's and an A. I have a job through the college two days a week, where i get paid $7.50hr to do my homework. And another job at a resturaunt for $9hr. I only have $400 dollars saved up because i was transitioning between jobs and had to tap into my savings account. But in a couple of months i should be able to afford an actual appartment.
Basically i need to know do i qualify? Is this an option for me? My mother and i dont get along(i know what teenage daughter and their mother do?) But i need to get out of the house and atleast get my proprety out of her control. My Father and i get along fine... But i know they would never agree to my moving out of the house with out an Emancipation... I would appreciate any feedback.

 

[AHA]

"Not getting along with my mother" is not a severe enough reason to get emancipated.

Maybe the reason why you can afford to pay for the cell phone, gas and clothes is because your parents are paying for your living expenses such as rent/morgage, electricity, heating, airconditioning, food, water, home insurance, gas, internet connection, home phone, cable tv, toiletries, furniture, bed linen, towels, plates, glasses, cutlery, washing machine, detergent, light bulbs, healthinsurance, life insurance, school fees, repairs to the house(stuff usually break without any warning=unexpected expenses) and everything else you use in your home.

And maybe you are doing well in school and can have a part time job that gives you pocket money is because you don't have to pay or worry about your own home and the really big monthly bills.

I'd say it looks like you are way too lucky in life to even be considered emancipation.

 

[cbg]

While I freely admit that I have not looked at the law in your state, in most if not all states you have to have your parent's permission before you can be legally emancipated. If such permission is not forthcoming, you can give up on the idea right there.

 

[babybl408]

You do not need your parent's permission, in the state of VA, just good reasoning. I will admit yes i am lucky, but i am afraid that i will do something extreme if i have to stay in this house another year... And as far as paying for expensies... I am looking in to an appartment not a house. so i am looking at rent and utilities, gas, food, my car and health insurance(which i already pay), cell phone(which i already pay)..And granted getting settled would take time but i am not high mantance, and i have friends that have already offered to help me out. And i know that little things like sheets, and dishes add up... but it's something that i can get slowly. I wouldnt mind sleeping in a sleepingbag, and eating off of styrophome... And i figure this is smarter then doing something extreme like running away... I just dont know what else to do.

 

[karihager1982]

I'm not trying to be mean or rude, but stick it out!!!

You seem like a nice guy, who has a good head on his shoulders. Most teenagers do not get along with their parents.

And I can completely understand that you want some freedom, and you want the responsibility that most other adults have, but right now, you should stay where you are.

Once you go out on your own, you have WAY more expenses than what you would normally have.

Plus - not to mention - what do you think it would do to your family? Wouldn't it put a strain between your mother, father, and you? I'm sure it would hurt them deeply.

Stick it out for the next 1.5 or so years. You'll be fine. Just hang in there!

 

[BelizeBreeze]

You do not need your parent's permission, in the state of VA, just good reasoning.

Well now, that's odd. I guess you should call the Virginia Legislature and inform them there is a mistake in CHAPTER 11. JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURTS, ARTICLE 15. EMANCIPATION OF MINORS statute.

16.1-333. Findings necessary to order that minor is emancipated.

The court may enter an order declaring the minor emancipated if, after a hearing, it is found that: (i) the minor has entered into a valid marriage, whether or not that marriage has been terminated by dissolution; or (ii) the minor is on active duty with any of the armed forces of the United States of America; or (iii) the minor willingly lives separate and apart from his parents or guardian, with the consent or acquiescence of the parents or guardian, and that the minor is or is capable of supporting himself and competently managing his own financial affairs.

 

[AHA]

An apartment isn't necessarily a lot cheaper than a house. Houses can be as small as just a couple of rooms just like an apartment. And there are the same utility expenses and starting a new home from scratch costs A LOT OF CASH. Trust me, I'm 32 and have done it several times, if I hadn't been forced to do it I would have been able to have a nice new car, a nice house and several nice vacations by now. So what you gain doesn't nearly make up for what you lose.

"i have friends that have already offered to help me out"

Again, emancipation is based on you supporting yourself fully without help from others, so it doesn't matter even if you would have had millionaire friends wanting to pay your bills and food for years to come, it won't get you emancipated.

Good luck to you, you have several very poor and struggling years ahead of you.