Getting Emancipated

**romesnow** · 02-02-2012, 12:38 AM

What I am doing is legal. I'm not a runaway. My parents know where I am and have given me permission to be here. I would also have you know it is legal for someone at 16 to be working with or even without their GED! Nobody is any legal jeopardy! Nothing is under the table and you need to open your eyes. Come on, you can't treat someone like me who works their hardest towards success like some runaway punk. Last semester I took online classes and finished a semester in less then a month, afterwards I was stuck at home with nothing to do bored out of my mind. What did I do with those months? I watched movies, tv, and was constantly high. I literally never, wasn't under the influence of marijuana. Hmm you tell me, is it better for me to be doing that or working my butt off like I am now, coming back exhausted from work feeling so good about myself that I have no thoughts of getting involved with drugs? I tell you this so you can realize there is more than meets the eye. Give things a little more thought before you go spouting all of this bs about what I'm doing is Illegal ect, ect. Have a nice day.. (This was to cdwjava. I'm still trying to figure this forum stuff out)

**Dogmatique** · 02-02-2012, 01:03 AM

Would you please read?

**LawResearcherMissy** · 02-02-2012, 07:50 AM

Sweetie, what cdwjava is saying is that you're in violation of Colorado's mandatory schooling laws. (You appear to be legally a resident of CO, temporarily residing in WY. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

In the state of Colorado, you MUST attend school until the age of 17. This has been law since 2007. It's not a matter of working at your age - in many states, you can begin working at the age of 14 - it's a matter of not following the mandatory education policies of your state. Yes, it IS illegal for you to not be in school. (Also, pretty dumb. It's really hard to get decent employment without a high school diploma.)

**cbg** · 02-02-2012, 07:55 AM

Or to put it another way; No one is saying it is illegal for you to work. What we are saying is that it is illegal for you not to be in school. It IS possible for you to work and go to school too.

**cdwjava** · 02-02-2012, 08:16 AM

Quoting romesnow

Thanks for the help and advice everyone. Oh and it is completely legal for a 16 year old to work cdwjava. That's not placing anyone at legal risk! I mean if you think its better for people like myself not to have a hard working job to occupy their time and teach them responsibility then that's your privilege to think so. I just think its better I'm doing something with my life and not using my downtime lazing around, getting into drugs, ect. But if you think that's a good lifestyle more power to you. I'm sure many would agree with me on that. To the rest of you thank you very much, it was better I get some more info before I took this to far

In most states, school age children are required to obtain work permits in order to work, and these are obtained through schools or with their agreement. Whether this is the law in WY or CO I do not know.

I see that you dd not answer the question as to whether or not you are working under the table or not. Do you receive a paycheck including payroll deductions for taxes, SSI, etc.?

And, of course, you and your parents are in violation of the law that REQUIRES you to go to school. You, your parents, and those that are keeping you out of school ARE subject to legal penalties (i.e. jail) because you are not attending school. You do not have to agree with the law to be subject to it.

Work is a grand thing ... but, education is at least as equally important. When you are 18 you can do what you want. Until then, you are subject to the rule of your parents and the laws governing the activity of dependent minors.