Emancipation

[soapy86]

What is the name of your state? Minnesota


Hello everyone,
I really need help on the Emancipation of a Minor law in Minnesota. I have a friend that is 23 years old, and he is dating a 17 1/2 year old for about 5 months. The parents of the girl are bi-polar like and were fine with her dating my friend, up until 2 days ago. A social worker had came into the home about a week ago, at which that time the parents told the social worker they were fine with their daughter dating my friend, but then changed their mind about 2 days ago. Now my question, I would like to know if, since she's 17 1/2, she could get emancipated in Minnesota without parental consent, or legal marriage. My friend is very happy, and so is she, and I don't think it's right for the parents to decide on the girls happiness because she is almost 18 as it is. I also had one more question. As I said the parents are both bi-polar like, and I know I should probably ask this somewhere else in the forums but the father of the girl had made a threat to my friend and my friend didn't go to the police at the time because he didn't want to make more trouble. What I was wondering is, and I don't really know how to word this so bear with me, what are the laws on mental health and threats? Would the threat the father made to my friend be enough to get him mental help? He hasn't been diagnosed with bi-polar but he has the symptoms of it. Please help if you can, and thank you so much for having this forum, it's alot of help!

 

[OhBullship]

If they are only wanting to date, I hope she will not take the chance of alienating herself from her parents for (potentially) the rest of her life just for a few dates. If they are in love, can't he wait six months in order to make her life easier?

She is almost old enough to move out on her own, and without taking the chance of hurting or angering the people who have raised her for almost 18 years. Pushing her into leaving just to date would be a pathetic attempt to control, isolate, and manipulate her. If they have "something special" it will still be there in six more months, and the parents will have to get use to it at that point.

Not every State allows for emancipation. The ones who do usually require the parents permission and that the child must be entirely self-sufficient. Moving in with the sweetie is not self-sufficiency. She can talk with a local lawyer to see how the process works in your area, if it is even available in your area.

As for the threats, what was the reason behind them, and what exactly was threatened?

 

[soapy86]

Well,
To answer about the threats, the father has made death threats to my friend, they won't let their daughter drive my friend's truck to work and said if she does they will slash the tires. The parents were actually very fond of him when they started dating, as I said, until a few days ago. I don't know what they could do, if anything.

 

[CdwJava]

It appears she is out of luck until she's 18:

Emancipation of a Minor: Emancipation means that a minor has the same legal rights and obligations as an 18-year-old adult. The Minnesota Statutes do not provide either the grounds or a procedure for emancipation. Minnesota case law has established that a minor can be emancipated by a legal marriage or by parental consent. For additional information see, Youth and the Law: A Guide for Legislators, p. 39-40.

This from: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/issues/legalage.asp

ANd your "friend" had better realizing that for a few more months he is legally dating a minor child that is the complete responsibility of her parents. Until that time, a court and a jury are probably going to grant the parent(s) a LOT of leeway to act in what they believe to be the best interest of their child.

His best bet woul dbe to stay away until she hits 18. Then he can support her ... and the inevitable child. If he fails to wait, he COULD face jail.

- Carl

 

[OhBullship]

As her parents, they are allowed to tell her she cannot drive someone else's car to work. If they desire, they can tell her she cannot even work. If you want to help this girl then the best thing you, and your friend can do is to back off.

I understand that they use to like him, but they are allowed to change their mind about who they do and do not like. Did your friend give them a reason not to like them? Did she give her parents a reason not to like him? Even if neither gave the parents a reason, they still do not have to like him. Trying to convince her to leave home certainly isn't going to make him appear any more likeable to respectable parents, it shows a serious lack of maturity as well as a lack of real concern for their child.

 

[stealth2]

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times - normal adults do not date children. Tell him to find a woman his own age.

 

[BrokenInside]

It appears she is out of luck until she's 18:

Emancipation of a Minor: Emancipation means that a minor has the same legal rights and obligations as an 18-year-old adult. The Minnesota Statutes do not provide either the grounds or a procedure for emancipation. Minnesota case law has established that a minor can be emancipated by a legal marriage or by parental consent. For additional information see, Youth and the Law: A Guide for Legislators, p. 39-40.

This from: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/issues/legalage.asp

ANd your "friend" had better realizing that for a few more months he is legally dating a minor child that is the complete responsibility of her parents. Until that time, a court and a jury are probably going to grant the parent(s) a LOT of leeway to act in what they believe to be the best interest of their child.

His best bet woul dbe to stay away until she hits 18. Then he can support her ... and the inevitable child. If he fails to wait, he COULD face jail.

- Carl

Is there a place I can find a site like this for North Dakota? With emancipation statutes? I had heard that there were none, but a counselor at my high school had said that there is or at least he thinks so......

 

[cbg]

I'm the one who told you that there wasn't, and here's my backup.

http://www.uslegalforms.com/lawdigest/emanicipation-law-digest.php/ND/ND-EM-001.htm