{"id":351835,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:35","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/emancipation-of-minors\/emancipation-procedure.html"},"modified":"2023-03-23T08:37:44","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T13:37:44","slug":"emancipation-procedure","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/emancipation-of-minors\/emancipation-procedure.html","title":{"rendered":"Emancipation Procedure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Emancipation Procedure<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/jade-yeban-j-d\/\">Jade Yeban, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/nicole-prebeck-esq\/\">Nicole Prebeck, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            March 23, 2023\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>Most minor children are automatically emancipated when they reach the age of majority in their state. Marrying or joining the armed forces is another path to automatic emancipation. The second path to emancipatio nis achieved through filing a petition with the appropriate state court.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n<p>Any minor child who wants to be emancipated from their parents or legal guardians must file a petition. This must be done with the proper state court.<\/p>\n<p>Usually, the court is the juvenile court or probate court. A juvenile court may also be a part of a family court. Which court has jurisdiction varies from state to state, so you should check in your state.<\/p>\n<p>The petitioner must also meet the criteria for emancipation. This typically corresponds with the minor&#8217;s best interests.<\/p>\n<p>For example, the court might require minors to be able to support themselves with their own money to approve emancipation. The court may ask for proof of the source of income and ask the minor about their financial affairs.<\/p>\n<p>This article includes an overview of the minor emancipation procedure. You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/emancipation-of-minors.html\">find information in this section<\/a> about:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The legal effects of emancipation<\/li>\n<li>An explanation of the so-called &quot;automatic emancipation&quot;<\/li>\n<li>A state-by-state directory of minor emancipation forms available for purchase<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Emancipation Court Procedure: The Basics<\/h2>\n<p>Requirements for emancipation differ by state. In some states, no court procedure is available for minor children to seek emancipation. States that do provide emancipation, however, share some similar procedural requirements.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/emancipation-of-minors\/emancipation-of-minors-the-court-procedure.html\">process to emancipate<\/a> minor children generally includes the following steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>The minor, a parent, or an appropriate third party, such as a social worker, collects documents to support the minor&#8217;s eligibility.<\/li>\n<li>That person submits a court petition (declaration of emancipation) and a filing fee to the clerk&#8217;s office.<\/li>\n<li>The court schedules a hearing to review the petition.<\/li>\n<li>The minor\/petitioner serves papers to the parents or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/guardianship\/guardianship-basics.html\">legal guardians<\/a> to notify or summon them to the court hearing, if applicable.<\/li>\n<li>At the hearing, the judge decides whether to issue a decree of emancipation of the minor.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This process can vary greatly depending on state law and the minor&#8217;s circumstances.&nbsp;The court may appoint a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/guardianship\/faq-on-guardianship-of-minor-children.html#Litem\">guardian ad litem<\/a> to represent the minor. Child Protective Services or law enforcement might conduct an investigation. And in some cases,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/emancipation-of-minors\/automatic-emancipation-of-minors.html\">emancipation may be automatic<\/a>&nbsp;according to state law.<\/p>\n<h2>Proof of Age and Residency<\/h2>\n<p>Minors petitioning for emancipation from parental control and care must prove their age. They might do this by providing the court with their birth certificate.<\/p>\n<p>They must prove their residency in the state where the petition is filed. Depending on the court, there may also be a filing fee.<\/p>\n<h2>Reason for Legal Emancipation<\/h2>\n<p>The minor must provide a reason for seeking emancipation. The parents must generally be given a notice of hearing.<\/p>\n<p>Parents may object to the emancipation of a minor. But, parental consent is not needed for a declaration of emancipation.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if a parent objects to an emancipation proceeding in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/legislation\/ilcs\/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2094&amp;ChapterID=59\" class=\"atom_link atom_valid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Illinois<\/a>, the case is terminated without emancipation. In&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.legislature.mi.gov\/(S(0wv5biyggcbg4xgb4nxtwlas))\/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&amp;objectName=mcl-722-3\" class=\"atom_link atom_valid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Michigan<\/a>, a parent&#8217;s objection does not automatically terminate a proceeding. However, it is taken into consideration.<\/p>\n<h2>Proof of Income and Support<\/h2>\n<p>The petitioning minor child must show the court they are mature enough to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/emancipation-of-minors\/rights-privileges-and-duties-of-emancipation.html\">care for themselves<\/a>. They must establish they can support themselves financially with their own money.<\/p>\n<p>They must also prove they can provide for their own shelter and make appropriate decisions for themselves. States may require minors to support themselves and live totally or partially independently before petitioning for emancipation.<\/p>\n<p>Most state emancipation statutes exclude the following when considering a minor&#8217;s ability to support themselves:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>State financial support<\/li>\n<li>General assistance<\/li>\n<li>General relief programs<\/li>\n<li>Welfare<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The court also engages in a broader examination to determine whether emancipation is in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody\/focusing-on-the-best-interests-of-the-child.html\" class=\"atom_link atom_valid\">best interests of the minor<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This standard is similar to the standard used in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody.html\">child custody cases<\/a>. If the court decides emancipation is in the best interest of the minor, the court will grant the petition. This means that the court will enter a declaration of emancipation.<\/p>\n<h2>Criteria for an Emancipation Ruling<\/h2>\n<p>Although <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/emancipation-of-minors\/how-do-you-get-emancipated.html\">criteria for granting emancipation<\/a> vary by state, courts are commonly concerned about the minor child being able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Support themselves financially currently or in the future<\/li>\n<li>Maintain financial security without receiving income from crime or welfare<\/li>\n<li>Live apart from their parents now or in the future<\/li>\n<li>Make adequate living arrangements for future housing if emancipation is granted<\/li>\n<li>Live without any dependency on parents or adults<\/li>\n<li>Make decisions for themselves<\/li>\n<li>Provide evidence of their good decision-making skills<\/li>\n<li>Maintain emotional maturity to function as an adult<\/li>\n<li>Attend school or already have a high school diploma<\/li>\n<li>Support their own medical care or health care<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Pregnancy and Emancipated Minors<\/h2>\n<p>In cases where a pregnant minor is seeking emancipation, the court examines whether they plan to be a single parent or wed the biological parent. A marriage would result in automatic emancipation in most circumstances.<\/p>\n<h2>How a Lawyer Can Help with Emancipation<\/h2>\n<p>Emancipation is a legal process. Whether you are a minor child seeking emancipation or a parent seeking to prevent emancipation, you will want to consider speaking to a lawyer.<\/p>\n<p>A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/family-law\/?fli=dcta\" class=\"atom_link atom_valid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">family law attorney<\/a>&nbsp;can give you legal advice with your situation in mind.&nbsp;<span style=\"background-color: transparent;\">Contact a family law attorney and inquire about their legal services today.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                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8.0565 18.9499 7.99672 18.66 8H13Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\n                              stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" 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        ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\">\n        <div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Minor children can go through the court process without parental consent\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    You may need legal help to understand local requirements and emancipation procedures\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    An attorney or a local legal aid office can provide more specific guidance\u00a0\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>Get tailored advice about seeking emancipation and ask a lawyer questions. 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petition the courts to become legally separated from their parents. 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