Can Children Divorce Their Parents?

Becoming an emancipated teenager is a legal process available in most states. Divorcing from your parents is not an easy thing legally, financially or emotionally. Becoming a responsible adult means taking care of yourself and bearing the full responsibility of your actions. 

What does it mean?

When you are declared emancipated, you have almost the same status as an adult. This means that you can get married, enroll into a school, or enroll in the military without your parent's consent. You can also buy and sell property and you can have the right to vote. 

Under what conditions can you be emancipated? 

First, the state you live in must recognize child's emancipation. As it is normal, a court will not grant you any independence before you meet certain conditions. Some basic requirements are:

• You need to be at least 14
• You need to prove that you have the financial means to support yourself. 
• You need to stay in school for several years, or at least until you are 16. 
• You need to prove that you can spend your income responsibly (pay the bills, do the grocery etc)

It is very hard to prove to a court that you can be a responsible adult. You will need to have a job or a regular source of income and to prove that you can spend the money responsibly. 

You also need a good reason to divorce your parents. Abuse and neglect are one of the strongest reasons as the child is safer living by himself that with his or her abusive parents. You can divorce your parents on other grounds too: for example if your parents have stolen the money you have earned. 

How to become emancipated? 

When you have a job and a place to stay, you can separate from your parents by filling out a Petition for Emancipation which you can find at your local jurisdiction. You do not need a lawyer to become emancipated, but it helps if you have one! An attorney will bring considerable proof to help your case and the fact that you can afford to pay for a layer prove that you have the necessary financial means. 

It is a lot easier to become emancipated if your parents consent to your decision. Before taking matters to court, try to talk with your parents and legal guardian about your status in the family! There are also numerous alternatives which you can choose!

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