I am 15 and I had a baby boy three months ago.

[LdiJ]

My objection to your earlier post was the: "if it relates in any way to emancipation, the answer is, you don't and you can't." That statement is incorrect because, as it relates to emancipation, a 15 year old can become emancipated (as could a 13 or 14 year old, depending on the state and the circumstances).

I read your link thoroughly and I saw nothing about 13 year olds.

A marriage at that age will require parental consent and/or judicial consent but, in those states that allow for a 15 year old to marry with consent, once married the 15 year old becomes emancipated. A marriage with its resulting emancipation of the minor becomes more likely in cases where the minor is pregnant or has a baby.

Sorry, but I call BS on the bolded...maybe 30-40 years ago but not today.

I agree, based solely on the type of posts we get on this forum, the odds are good that the question-not-asked has to do with leaving home with the baby to live with the boyfriend. BUT, the question-not-asked could also have to do with visitation rights, grandparent rights, privacy rights ... in fact, there are so many possibilities other than emancipation that it seems a waste of time to address all or any of them.

Of course, you are ignoring the fact that any teenager that gets any encouragement at all on the issue of emancipation is not only going to try to run with it, but will disseminate it on social media all over the web.

To me, it seems smarter to wait for an actual question from Jaxon's Mommy and the identification of the state involved ... although as time passes, it seems less likely that we will get either one.


(love and respect you, too, cbg )

 

[cbg]

You really do refuse to hear what I'm saying, don't you?

 

[quincy]

I read your link thoroughly and I saw nothing about 13 year olds.

OK. So ... ?

How to do your own research: 1. Pick a state name. 2. Put the state name into your search bar along with "minimum age for marriage" (NOTE: age for marriage is NOT the same as age of majority). 3. Click on reliable links. 4. Repeat. (hint: start with New Hampshire)

Sorry, but I call BS on the bolded...maybe 30-40 years ago but not today.

You are free to call it whatever you want. Indiana, as a note, allows for marriage at 15 in cases of pregnancy (with parental and judicial consent).

From the March 9, 2015 issue of The Atlantic, "A Strange Map of the World's Child Marriage Laws:" http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/03/child-marriage-map/387214/

For one state out of many, here is information on Maryland, from The Maryland People's Law Library: https://www.peoples-law.org/issues-minors-seeking-emancipation-parents

Of course, you are ignoring the fact that any teenager that gets any encouragement at all on the issue of emancipation is not only going to try to run with it, but will disseminate it on social media all over the web.

I am not "ignoring" anything. I am providing the law. Isn't that what this forum does, regardless of the age of the poster who is seeking information? Or are we supposed to lie to teenagers, for fear of what they might do if they know the truth?

 

[NellieBly]

There is no minimum age for marriage in MA . Between 2010 and 2014 200 children were married in MA. Mostly young girls to older men A judge has to approve. Alas, children lack legal standing to file for divorce

 

[quincy]

There is no minimum age for marriage in MA . Between 2010 and 2014 200 children were married in MA. Mostly young girls to older men A judge has to approve. Alas, children lack legal standing to file for divorce

And your source is ...?

Common law in Massachusetts sets the minimum age for marriage at 12 for females and 14 for males.

"You can file for divorce in Massachusetts if you have lived in the state for one year, or if the reason the marriage ended happened in Massachusetts and you have lived in Massachusetts as a couple." From: http://www.mass.gov/courts/selfhelp/family/who-can-divorce.html

"... all laws that apply to married people also apply to [married] minors." From: http://www.masslegalhelp.org/children-and-families/emancipation

 

[NellieBly]

There was an article on the local paper's website yesterday if I knew how to cut and paste on my phone I would post it .

 

[quincy]

There was an article on the local paper's website yesterday if I knew how to cut and paste on my phone I would post it .

You can provide the name of your local paper's website and the title of the article.

 

[cbg]

The source article in the Globe referred to 17 year olds (and I will acknowledge) 15 year olds, not 13 and 14 year olds.

I had not seen this article until Nellie referred to it.

I still maintain that LEAVING OUT legal marriage, which I was not referring to in the first place, the chances of a 15 year old with a baby being emancipated are slim to none. Many states are actively taking steps to tighten up their laws, making it more difficult, not less difficult, for a pregnant teen or a teen mother to be left on her own. Not to mention that not all states will permit a minor to be emancipated in the first place.

 

[quincy]

Here are two links (not the Boston Globe article) to the story:

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/08/almost_200_children_were_marri.html

http://news10.com/2016/08/11/advocates-concerned-by-child-marriage-in-massachusetts/

 

[NellieBly]

That's it. I read it on Masslive.

 

[quincy]

Thanks for providing the information. It is both interesting and sad.

There are sure a lot of emancipated minors in Massachusetts, huh, cbg?

I understood what you were talking about on page one of this thread, by the way. My original correction was only intended to be an aside, while we waited for Jaxon's Mommy to return.

 

[cbg]

Also as an aside, we learned on another board that in at least one state (NC comes to mind but I'm not going to swear to that - it was somewhere in the south but I'm not positive as to which state) a married minor is NOT emancipated. Came as a surprise to everyone there but when the statutes were looked at, that was the answer.

 

[quincy]

Also as an aside, we learned on another board that in at least one state (NC comes to mind but I'm not going to swear to that - it was somewhere in the south but I'm not positive as to which state) a married minor is NOT emancipated. Came as a surprise to everyone there but when the statutes were looked at, that was the answer.

It's not North Carolina.

I sure hope Jaxon's Mommy had a question about marriage and/or emancipation. If the question is an alcohol or drug one or wanting to know if she can buy a pit bull, she will have to wade through a lot of irrelevant information.