Can You Get Emancipated Because Your Parents are Lazy

[Megerz]

I was just asking. I am not entirely sure you understand what I mean, I word things weird. I wasn't meaning to sound rude. I know nothing on how this works at all, this the the reason I made an account on here. But thanks.

[Dogmatique]

I've read and re-read your post, Meg.

But honestly, I don't want to lie to you or give you false hope. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not have a statute allowing for the emancipation of a minor child. Therefore it has to be looked at on the county level, and some counties will simply not allow it period. In the counties that do, I'd take a rough guess that maybe - and this is a huge maybe - 3-5 percent of petitions are granted. It's about 10% nationwide, and many (if not most) of these involve minors such as Macauley Culkin and Miley Cyrus, who are obviously capable of supporting themselves.

I know you're not happy at home and I do get that - I was a teenager once, too. But the bottom line is, if you're not already fully capable of supporting yourself right now, at the time you file (again assuming that your county even allows it), you're going to be denied.

Again, I know you're not happy and I know you want out - but emancipation simply isn't going to happen.

So. With all of that said, how much reading have you done within the last hour about emancipation?

[David from Pennsylvania]

First, "emancipation" isn't really the issue here. It would be permanent and expensive and unnecessary and would not accomplish what you are looking for. Further, you'd be 18 before it would get accomplished and the likelihood of it being granted is infinitesimally small. If you feel that your parents' treatment of you raises itself to the level of abuse you can contact Children & Youth Services for your county. You can find their number on the interwebs. If your health is in danger, that'll do it. However, if you simply disagree with your parents about medical decisions, that is different. Those decisions, within reason, are for your parents to make.

If I were you I would weigh this option with your school counselor (or whatever counselor you have available to you). C&Y are the folks that deal with these things and would have someone talk to you in a week or so.

They have the ability to eventually remove you or get you in front of a judge who will decide what to do with you. You should know that you are old enough that your opinion will be taken into account, but you are not going to be able to pick where you live.

Just as a point of fact for the SSI/SSDI thing, presence certainly does matter, a lot.