Can You Get Emancipated if You're Feuding With Your Parents

I'm 16 I turn 17 April 24th . I'm in the 11th grade but I plan on graduating this may. My father and I have been feuding for awhile now. I'm not sure if my dad has legal custody of me because after living in a foster home for a year I was placed with my aunt and uncle who kicked me out and after that I stayed with my dad with no legal papers being signed saying I could be with him. I've been in his "care" for about 4 years now even though I haven't lived with him. I've been bounced around to many homes and schools. My mother passed away in 2006 when I was in foster care. I am currently staying 300 miles away from my dad in a unsuitable travel trailer . I have a 17 year old boyfriend who turns 18 in february , we've been together for over a year now. His family loves me and is willing to help & take care of me. I lied to my dad about staying with a friend when I was really staying with my boyfriend because my dad does not approve of mixed race relationships. My dad has been causing a lot of drama With the police. I want to know if there is anyway my boyfriend can get in trouble for being with me & what can I do to emancipate myself to my boyfriends family. My dad is totally against this but he is only out to get me. I can legally leave in 4 months when I turn 17 but 4 months is along time with my dad. There is more to the story with my dad drugs, money, etc.... I just want to know if there is anything I can possibly do without my dads consent because he is going to do anything to make me not happy..

Nothing you have said is grounds for emancipation. Emancipation is not a way to escape parental enslavement, but a recognition that an already independent child needs relief from certain things that are denied them (entering into contracts, etc.).
If you are being abused, we arrange alternative placement (foster care, etc..) rather than turning kids to go shack up with their boyfriend. Your father's disapproval of your boyfriend is his prerogative and doesn't rise to the level of abuse. Shacking up with your boyfriend will not meet the requirements of independence.

You didn't tell us what state this is in, so that's the best answer we can give.

I'm in Texas. And I'm sick of hearing "shack up" because that's definitely not the case. He guarantees me a hot shower every night & a meal when my dad can't so I see it as me looking out for myself rather than shacking up. His family wants to help me. But ANYWAYS.. If emancipation is not necessary in my case then what is? I'm sure that I'm not the only teenage girl without a mom who feels they desperately need help. My dad can't choose who I can be with by there race whether its his prerogative or not. You're on the outside looking in so I can't expect you to fully understand. But if you were in my situation you would definitely be trying to shack up with your girlfriend to , sir. Thanks.

In Texas, in order to be emancipated you need to be able to prove that you are capable of complete and total self-support. That means that you, all by yourself, without any assistance from anyone including your boyfriend or his family, are able to pay 100% of all your expenses including but not limited to the market rate for rent, utilities, food, clothing, transportation, medical care, insurance, staples, school fees and supplies, and all the other incidentals of life. You will be expected to present evidence to this including paystubs, rent receipts, grocery and utility bills, proof of insurance, car payments, etc. and how the pay indicated on the stubs will cover all the rest. You will NOT be emancipated if there is even the slightest chance that you will become a burden on the taxpayers.

Emancipation does not mean that someone other than your parents are supporting you. It means that you are supporting yourself.

REASON: First of all, you need a good, legitimate reason. "My mom makes me do chores", "My dad is mean"...these are not valid reasons.

LAWS:
- Parental Permission.
- You have to be able to support yourself. No room-mate, no living at a friend/boyfriends place.
- You have to be going to school and maintaining good grades.
- To support yourself, you need to have employment, which your school will have to issue you a Work Permit For. There are laws stating how many hours you can attend school/work. The combination for Michigan, for example, is 48 hours per week.

THE FINANCIALS INVOLVED WITH PROVING YOU CAN SUPPORT YOURSELF:
- Rent for an apartment. Do some research in your area on sites such as
www.forrent.com; www.apartmentguide.com; www.rent.com to see what even a studio apartment will cost.

NOTE: Many communities require a deposit. Expect one of the following:
- First months, last month, plus another month Security Deposit. (so if an apartment is $600 per month, you will need to pay $1800 to move in).
- First months, last month, +$200-300 Security Deposit.

(The next issue is – who will rent to you? You need to have income; you likely do not have a credit rating, so you will need a co-signer, and your deposit may be higher).

- Utilities. Heat/Air, Electric, Water/Trash/Sewer. Sometimes Pest Control. Expect $100+ per month.
- Medical Insurance. To become emancipated, you must be able to prove you have medical insurance.
- Medical Expenses. Got glasses? Need Diabetes Test Strips, etc? A prescription that needs filling each month? You have to be able to pay for that. You may also need Dental Insurance, too.
- Food. You will need to eat. And you will find that cooking for yourself is a lot cheaper than fast food and pizza. $200 a month is a good figure.
- Staples: Deodorant, toothpaste, dental floss, soap, laundry detergent, dish soap, toilet paper, Kleenex, trash bags, lunch bags, foil ….you get the idea….
- Laundry: Coin Laundry can easily run $10 a week or more.
- Transportation: How will you get around? If by car, you need to allow for gas, oil changes, repairwork, maintenance….. If you have a car, you also need to include Car Insurance, License and License Plate fees in your budget.
- Clothing: Always have a clothing allowance! You may find your job requires you to wear certain clothes or footwear. Always have money budgeted/set aside in case.

Next: You need a lot of stuff around your apartment:
First: Be aware that your parents do not have to let you take furniture, clothing, etc., that they have purchased for you over the years. You may have to buy your own.
- Where will you sleep? Bed? Air mattress? Sleeping bag on the floor?
- Clothing.
- You will need these: Something to cook with (atleast a sauce pan, fry pan, cookie sheet (the cookie sheet can be used to heat frozen pizza, etc). A few cups/glasses (cheaper than buying Solo cups all the time). Eating and cooking utensils. Dishes/bowls. A plunger. Trash containers for bathroom and kitchen. Always have a couple of flashlights and batteries. A broom. A vacuum or other device for your apartments carpet. A mop for the floors (if you don’t clean ‘em, you can lose your security deposit).
Note: This is not an all-inclusive list.
And notice it does not list any costs for Cable, Internet, Telephone, Gym, Tanning, movies, entertainment….

Quote:

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My dad can't choose who I can be with by there race whether its his prerogative or not.

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Until you are 18 years old, he most certainly can. You're really not clear on the whole "age of majority" thing, are you? No, you may not legally leave at 17. The police might be reluctant to drag you back home by your ear when you're reported as a runaway, but that doesn't mean that you won't be.

No court in the world will "emancipate [you] to [your] boyfriend's family". That's not what emancipation is. If you are not already supporting yourself 100%, and are planning instead to have someone else support you, your petition won't even be heard, let alone granted. And if Dad says No, that's it anyway.