How to File for Emancipation for a Teen Mother

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Texas.

I am 16 years old and I have a son. I understand that has nothing to do with emancipation. My mother and I have always had problems. Not the normal mother daughter fighting. My mom has always had problems with opioids. Keeping in mind she has prescriptions for these but doesnt follow dosage. She has a chemical imbalance also. She babysits my son while I go to school. I am a sophomore in high school. We fight constantly to a point it sometimes becomes physical. (Not by my doings.) Sometimes my son is involved in the fights when he should not be. My mother drove extremely dangerously with my son and I in the car (100 mph passing cars when other cars are swerving off the road to avoid her.) She has tried to kick me out of her car and never actually lets me get out. She tells me to leave and I do. She calls and tells me to come home (I do knowing that she still controls where I am at all times.) It has become a very serious situation to where I have ralked to many authorities. I had filed a police report. I feel this is a very unsafe enviorment for my son and myself. I have a job offering. I am waiting until school is out to pursue. (This friday school ends.) I have good grades and I also have a house I could rent. I can apply for medicade in my own name and my son is on medicade. Should I try for emancipation and if so how do I begin? Keep in mind I dont want to be on my own just yet but I feel it is necessary.

Emancipation is not an option. In your state to be emancipated at your age you must ALREADY be living on your own and paying all your own expenses. That would mean for you and the baby.

That's assuming that the state would even consider emancipating a 16 year old who already has a child and thus has been shown to need more supervision, not less.

Agreed. It also seems that emancipation wouldn't be the sensible option, anyway, even if it were possible.

So you dont feel this situation is dangerous? I feel it is very dangerous and I will try to become emancipated.

Children don't become emancipated because of a dangerous environment.

If you feel genuinely at risk, contact child services in your area.

Sticking your head in the sand and ignoring reality isn't going to help you.

What do you think police reports are. They went straight to cps. What else would emancipation be for? My enviornment is dangerous, I can support myself and continue going to school. As I said I am waiting for school to end and I am taking the job offer and I will be at the house I will be renting with permission. I will pay my first months rent and file for emancipation. I believe your reply is diased tword an irresponsible teen who wants frredom. I want what is best for my son.

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Quoting youngmother

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So you dont feel this situation is dangerous? I feel it is very dangerous and I will try to become emancipated.

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Don't confuse your negligent behavior leaving the child with your mother, for her negligent behavior. Put on your big girl panties and find alternate childcare. BTW, Medicaid and welfare are not, nor have they ever been. meant to allow a immature teen who was knocked up, move out on her own.

The question is not whether we feel the situation is dangerous. The question is whether or not you qualify for emancipation. You do not.

Contrary to what far too many children (and yes, you are a child whether you have one of your own or not) believe, emancipation is not and never was intended to be a means for a minor to move out. It was and is intended to be a means to provide legal protections to those minors who, for reasons outside their own control, found themselves living alone. Emancipation is NEVER granted on the basis of a bad environment. If you need to be removed from the home, you may be placed with other relatives; you may end up in foster care; you may end up in a group home. You will NOT be emancipated unless you meet the qualifications, which, as has already been said, you do not.

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ETA: Fine. If you have permission to move out, you can move out. Then, after you have been living on your own and paying EVERY SINGLE PENNY of what it costs to support you and your son, then the state MAY, in six months to a year, emancipate you.

If you need any assistance to pay your and your son's expenses, however, emancipation is not going to happen.

I have a couple of serious questions.

1. Where is your father?

2. Where is your child's father?

3. What type of job will fully support you and your son 100%?

My father is not in the equation. My sons father, is very much involved. He should not matter although because you have said it is independent. My own mother cant support me. And the job I will have is a certified nurses assistant at a retirement home that pays 9$ an hour.

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Quoting youngmother

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My father is not in the equation. My sons father, is very much involved. He should not matter although because you have said it is independent. My own mother cant support me. And the job I will have is a certified nurses assistant at a retirement home that pays 9$ an hour.

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So, you have rent. Utilities. Baby supplies. Daycare? Food, clothing, insurance, etc., etc.

Are we supposed to be impressed by $9 an hour? Sweetheart, working 40 hours a week you won't be making enough to cover the baby's expenses, let alone your own.

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Quoting youngmother

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I am 16 years old and I have a son. I understand that has nothing to do with emancipation. My mother and I have always had problems.

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If you took the few seconds necessary to follow the instruction given to you and read the stickied threads, you would find your question answered. You are sixteen and live at home, so you cannot get emancipated. You should belatedly read this and this.

Also, you would know that "The job I will have" isn't even going to help you when you turn 17. You need to have that job and a demonstrated ability to support yourself and manage your own financial affairs.

See if you can work out a budget like this:

$9.00/hr. Oops, you are a minor so you need a work permit....which limits your hours.
You need to get your GED or Diploma.

Now....start researching apartments in your area. Don't forget to add things like heat, A/C, water, trash, utilities to the rent.
Now the costs for food and your kid.
Got transportation? How much does that cost?
Staples....toilet paper, toothpaste, floss, soap, shampoo, conditioner, makeup......diapers and stuff for your kid.
Got clothes for work?
You'll also need things like trash cans, trash bags, dishes, pots and pans, cooking utensils, towels....

Oh...bed....crib...your parents may not let you take those unless you pay for them....

$9 per hour? Let's break it down by category
Groceries - food in the house. Forget any eating out. Don't forget to add your son's food (formula, baby food, etc)

Household products - like paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, washcloths, towels, soap, shampoo (for both of you), laundry products

Utilities - phone, power, heat, water, trash collection (especially if you are in a house), pest control (especially if you are in a house)

Furniture - baby furniture (which will change in a few years when junior moves to a bigger bed), high chair, table, chairs

Automotive - car? (then you have to include gas, repairs, insurance, registration) if no car, transportation? (bus fare)

Personal items - clothing for both you and baby. And let me tell you, those little suckers go through clothing like they were Amelda Marcos. Shoes. Coats. And then double that because you have at least 2 seasons to consider.

Extraneous costs - daycare for your son while you are working. Internet AND a computer if you are looking to get your GED while watching your son. Care for your son if you decide to use the library. Do you like TV? Additional costs there (a TV to begin with, cable if you like that). And then there are the little everyday items that no one ever sees coming.

Basically on $9 per hour you can forget doing ANYTHING other than working and sitting at home on the floor with no furniture.

If you are given permission to work even 40 hours per week (assuming you work year round at 40 hours per week) here are your figures

$9 x 40 = 360/wk = 18720/yr

18720.00 - yearly salary
2200.50 - federal taxes
1170.00 - TX state taxes (using 6.25% but it can go as high as 8.25%)
1160.64 - Social Security taxes
271.44 - Medicare taxes
13917.46 - total yearly bring home

Divide that by 52 weeks = 267.64 per week bring home.

REALLY think you and son can live on that? And this is ONLY if you work full time and if NO other expenses are taken out of your paycheck.

Well guess what you "expert" I had a court date today and the judge signed off on the damn emancipation papers. You're so smart and you helped sooo much. Guess it was my fault for asking such judgmental ass holes.

If that's true, you won't mind giving us the case number, will you?

My inbox is open!

(Little liar, aren't you? You got a court hearing and it's all sorted out in less than a month? SUUUUUUUUUUUUURE)

I wouldn't mind giving the case number to you, but I dont believe it would be smart to put any of my personal information on the internet. If you would like to beleibe I am lieing that is your own opinion. I dont have to prove anything to you. You're just someone I asked online about a legal issue and my problem is solved. I am also married now so even you cant argue the fact that I am wrong.

LOL.

Suuuuuuuure.

We believe you.

Thanks for taking the time to prove yourself a liar. If you were married, emancipation is automatic. You did not need to obtain court ordered emancipation. Yet, you managed to do both in one month. Did you marry the judge? Thx for playing.

I'll be the one to say it.

Liar.

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Well guess what you "expert" I had a court date today and the judge signed off on the damn emancipation papers.

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Oooooh, little girl. Your pants are SO on fire, I can see 'em from Ohio.

Not only do you NOT meet ANY of the requirements for emancipation in Texas (or any other state, for that matter), it takes between 6 months and a year to even get your petition on the docket. You expect us to believe that the courts cleared the docket to put you first, because you're such a special and important snowflake?

AND you got married without parental consent, because the courts were perfectly happy to suspend the law for you?

Sweetie, you know that if you were legally married, your emancipation petition would be dismissed, because legal marriage emancipates you, right?

Adorable. You REALLY SUCK at lying.

LLPoF

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Quoting SESmama

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$9 per hour? Let's break it down by category
Groceries - food in the house. Forget any eating out. Don't forget to add your son's food (formula, baby food, etc)

Household products - like paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, washcloths, towels, soap, shampoo (for both of you), laundry products

Utilities - phone, power, heat, water, trash collection (especially if you are in a house), pest control (especially if you are in a house)

Furniture - baby furniture (which will change in a few years when junior moves to a bigger bed), high chair, table, chairs

Automotive - car? (then you have to include gas, repairs, insurance, registration) if no car, transportation? (bus fare)

Personal items - clothing for both you and baby. And let me tell you, those little suckers go through clothing like they were Amelda Marcos. Shoes. Coats. And then double that because you have at least 2 seasons to consider.

Extraneous costs - daycare for your son while you are working. Internet AND a computer if you are looking to get your GED while watching your son. Care for your son if you decide to use the library. Do you like TV? Additional costs there (a TV to begin with, cable if you like that). And then there are the little everyday items that no one ever sees coming.

Basically on $9 per hour you can forget doing ANYTHING other than working and sitting at home on the floor with no furniture.

If you are given permission to work even 40 hours per week (assuming you work year round at 40 hours per week) here are your figures

$9 x 40 = 360/wk = 18720/yr

18720.00 - yearly salary
+3908.00 - federal taxes
1160.64 - Social Security taxes
271.44 - Medicare taxes
21195.92 - total yearly bring home

Divide that by 52 weeks = Probably around 332.00 a week with a lump sum of 3908.00 at tax time.

REALLY think you and son can live on that? And this is ONLY if you work full time and if NO other expenses are taken out of your paycheck.

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While I think that your point is absolutely excellent, I can tell you right now that you are wrong on both the federal and state income tax figures. Not only will she have zero federal income tax at that income level (with her child as her dependent) but she will get back, on top of any withholdings, approximate 3908.00 in refundable credits, therefore that figure should be added to her income, rather than there being any deduction for federal income tax.

Therefore please note how I have corrected the figures in the above quote.

In addition, TX has no state income tax for individuals, therefore there would be no deduction for TX either.

I married with parental consent and that IS the reason the emancipation papers were signed. Both my mother and father signed the papers for my husband and I to marry. We had a court date 6/24/13. No one has to believe me.

Good. Because we don't.

If no one has to believe you, why do you keep coming back to argue?

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Quoting LawResearcherMissy

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Oooooh, little girl. Your pants are SO on fire, I can see 'em from Ohio.

Not only do you NOT meet ANY of the requirements for emancipation in Texas (or any other state, for that matter), it takes between 6 months and a year to even get your petition on the docket. You expect us to believe that the courts cleared the docket to put you first, because you're such a special and important snowflake?

AND you got married without parental consent, because the courts were perfectly happy to suspend the law for you?

Sweetie, you know that if you were legally married, your emancipation petition would be dismissed, because legal marriage emancipates you, right?

Adorable. You REALLY SUCK at lying.

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Awww man, I wanted her to come back and prove us wrong!

:p