When Can You Become Emancipated in Michigan

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Michigan

Hello,

I am 17 years old, my parents divorced when I was 14. My mother was awarded custody of me.

I started work at a DNA lab at minimum wage, and they have already promoted me to a higher wage group and have asked me to work more hours.

My mother was a homemaker in the marriage and has been unemployed since the divorce. We live on a combination of alimony, child support and my wages. I don't get along with my mother.

When I ask my father what is going to happen, he just looks sideways and says to wait until I am 18.

Nobody will talk to me about what is going on here. My mother tries to prevent me from talking to my father when she is sober. Can I become emancipated? Can someone explain in more detail what is going on?

I'm not sure what you're looking for; you won't be emancipated, and if Mom says you can't talk to Dad then it's up to him to make it an issue.

You're 17 - you'll be able to move out soon anyway.

My father has already filed a number of times because my mom just makes things up. I have been in court a few times now. One time the judge just leaned over and asked if he was "current on child support", he was so the judge just kind of said "next".

I know that I can do something else at 18, but I am very worried about my mom. She is not just living on my income, but also child support. That all gets cut off next year, and my father is pushing to get the alimony reduced. I don't know what is going to happen to my mother.

Then work to continue supporting her if you wish. That is not dads problem once his legal obligations are met.

Do you realize that if you are emancipated, child support to your mother will stop then?

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Quoting pera

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My father has already filed a number of times because my mom just makes things up. I have been in court a few times now. One time the judge just leaned over and asked if he was "current on child support", he was so the judge just kind of said "next".

I know that I can do something else at 18, but I am very worried about my mom. She is not just living on my income, but also child support. That all gets cut off next year, and my father is pushing to get the alimony reduced. I don't know what is going to happen to my mother.

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Is there a reason Mom isn't working? Your Dad is - quite rightly - going to try and get alimony either completely off the table or, depending on how much he earns, make it a minimal and short term deal.

This is honestly not your legal problem though.

"Is there a reason Mom isn't working?"

That's one of the main things that I used to argue about with her. She says it is his job to support her, and he is getting out of his commitment. Then she lets loose with cut-downs about how he is not a real man and all that stuff. I just don't even talk to her about it anymore. It also bothers me that she just kind of takes over my paycheck and gives me a little. my check covers the rent and light and that stuff, but I feel like I should have more money out of it because my mother is just not going to work and it's not fair. my father has tried to get custoday, but the social worker said it would be best to keep me here until I'm 18. The social worker also told me in my private interview that my dad should be paying more for my mother, so that just makes my mother think even more that she is not going to work.

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Thank you though. I know that you are busy lawyers here.

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Quoting pera

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"Is there a reason Mom isn't working?"

That's one of the main things that I used to argue about with her. She says it is his job to support her, and he is getting out of his commitment. Then she lets loose with cut-downs about how he is not a real man and all that stuff. I just don't even talk to her about it anymore. It also bothers me that she just kind of takes over my paycheck and gives me a little. my check covers the rent and light and that stuff, but I feel like I should have more money out of it because my mother is just not going to work and it's not fair. my father has tried to get custoday, but the social worker said it would be best to keep me here until I'm 18. The social worker also told me in my private interview that my dad should be paying more for my mother, so that just makes my mother think even more that she is not going to work.

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Dad should be paying more...why? It's absolutely not his job to keep supporting Mom. She can work, and she shouldn't be living off of Dad's money - when he stops paying child support what's she going to do then?

She should also be prepared for Dad to file for a modification of alimony.

I'm sorry you're in this mess, pena. It's not fair that you've been put into this situation.

But this is a prime example of what happens when you do put your needs before the needs of your children.

Thankfully you can be out of that situation in a matter of months. Stick it out, pena. Then you can do whatever you want.

I truly wish you the best of luck. I think you''ll go far in this world :)