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Can I Get My Freedom
My question involves emancipation laws for the State of: Texas and\or Pennsylvania.
Okay, I have just turned 17 a few days ago. While I was still 16 me and my parents got into a dispute over a cell phone. They tried to leave me home alone with no electronics, I.E. phones, internet, etc. I wanted a cell phone so I could contact my friends, have something to do, and call them if there was a problem. Well, I got tackled and it was, most literally choked out of my back pocket.
I got up and started packing my backpack. Dad helped too. I was told I could stay or go if I wanted, so I chose to go. Tension was high in our house anyway. There was verbal abuse and in some cases physical by my mother. I have not gone to public school in my life. I went to K5 for a short time, but after that I was "homeschooled". I do not consider myself schooled. I am told I have to do one book at a time. Starting with algebra. I want a rounded education but when I ask for it I am chewed out for it because I am being "Ungrateful" and "rebellious".
Anyway, I got my backpack and bought a bus ticket to Pittsburgh, PA. Here I am staying with some friends of mine 1500 miles away from home in Texas. I want to stay here but I am afraid Dad will come and try to get me, and I am afraid to go home. I hate it there. They even admitted the house has become more peaceful while I am gone, but they are almost bipolar like and they could want me back at any time. How do I protect myself? What state law would I be under? PA or TX?
Can I get my freedom and stay with my new family?
And if so how do I do it so I am protecting myself and my new family from my parents?
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Re: Can I Get My Freedom
Oh, please, you were left home alone without electronics? What abuse! :wallbang: Maybe THAT would have been a good time to read a book.
You're staying with friends at the pleasure of your parents. You are not attending school (apparently). You are not supporting yourself nor do you have any means to support yourself. As in rent, food, clothing, utilities, transportation, insurance, food, etc. You cannot be emanicipated, period. If dad comes to get you, you have to go with dad, legally.
If you are being physically abused, call Child Protective Services. And maybe you're part of the reason for the "tension" in the home.
Once you turned 17, Texas law no longer required that you attend school at all, public, private or home-schooled. The method your parents chose to use may not have been approved or wise (or not), but it's all water under the bridge now, at your age. Maybe you don't consider yourself "schooled" because you didn't apply yourself.
When you turn 18, you can legally go wherever you want to go and do whatever you want to do; until then you are legally under the control of your parents.