Getting Emancipated So I Can Live With a Friend

My question involves guardianship in the State of: North Carolina/South Carolina

Hey everyone, I'm glad I found this website as I am seeking emancipation from my parents to live with a friend of mine (currently live in North Carolina, friend lives in South Carolina). I do not have the common teenager's excuses about emancipation "They make me do chores, take responsibility for myself, etc" I feel I am a qualified young adult and can live on my own safely enough. The friend I mentioned previously is 20 years old (21 this October) and I already take many responsibilities around the house. I currently live with my step-father (whom my mother divorced but because he raised me since I was four years old (now just under Seventeen) I decided to live with him, and have for the past six months. His job requires him to go out of town, sometimes for weeks on end and I am trusted around the house by myself. I wake myself up, get ready for school, attend school, come home, clean up a bit, do school work, and take care of anything else that needs doing nearly every day. I maintain a 3.8GPA in school currently, and have college plans. I don't have any bad reason for moving out, nor do my parents have objections to my emancipation plan, even they agree I am more than capable to live on my own. I have researched a bit online and found that basically to prove to a judge I can be emancipated I must have parent(s) who consent, prove I am mature, continue in school, and provide proof of legal income (enough to live on). I can provide all of these I just wonder, how would I start with the application to be emancipated? Go to the local court house or...? I just need to get these few beginning steps taken care of and I should be on my way.

Questions:
1.) How would I get an application to be emancipated
2.) I understand that many emancipation cases usually involve teens getting abused, I'm not abused in any way, I just would like to live on my own to attend my senior year of high school at a better school (one in South Carolina) that would help me apply to a college with a stronger application. My parents will not, and can not be convinced to move out and enroll me in a different school, they live comfortable lives where they are and don't see a reason to move out.

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedL...rticle_35.html

So you are earning about $2k per month? That is a reasonable amount to provide your own food, clothing, health insurance and other basic needs, while you live with your friend.

Your understanding is WRONG. EMANCIPATION almost never involves abuse. We do not take kids who are abused and send them out to live on their own. If necessary we place them in alternative custodial care. Your desire to attend a different school isn't even on the list of the criteria.

Your chances at emancipation in NC without parental approval as well as demonstration that you can conduct yourself as an adult is slim to none (closer to none).

As far as getting in to college, you'd do better to take the effort you're wasting on emancipation and put it to your studies. I busted my butt in one of the poorer school systems in the country and managed to get out with better grades than you as well as enough activity, work experience, and other criterial to get me into Johns Hopkins with little fuss early decision.

You're 16 and he is 20 ... is this a love interest, or merely a platonic friend with whom you would be boarding in a room of your own? Courts do not regularly emancipate minors so they can enter into romantic relationships.

Why would emancipation be in your best interest? Would your parents oppose your emancipation?

As mentioned, just wanting to live with a friend in another state is not sufficient to grant emancipation. If your parents are willing to let you go to SC and live with this friend, you can do that without emancipation ... they will have to provide for health care and schooling, but they can certainly let you live in another state provided it does not involve any unlawful sexual activity.

Check out the link cbg posted - it contains the requirements for emancipation.