Pregnant Teen Wants to Get Emancipated

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: texas

my best friend is 16, she turns 17 in november, she is 4 and a half months pregnant. her grandma has a habit of kicking her out every now and then then calling the cops and saying she ran away. well today she missed the bus for school and her grandma refused to take her, she lives to far to walk to school so she just stayed home. her grandma called the school and said she was skipping but she wasnt.after school today they got into a fight and her grandma pushed her into the counter(kowing shes 4 and a half months pregnant) then accused her of stealing her keys (which she didnt steal. her grandma just misplaced them) and the cops were called. the cops didnt do anything when my friend told them that her grandma pushed her into the counter. when my friend tried to go to work her grandma said she wasnt allowed to leave and stood in frount of the door blocking her way out. she asked if she could call her work and tell them she wasnt going to be in (her grandma deactivated her phone) but her grandma said no and called them and said she made no effort to go to work today and she simplyrefused to go. she has a doctors appointment soon to find out the gender and her grandma refuses to take her.
(and this was all just today!!!!!!!!)

does she quallify for emansipation?

Short answer: No.

Longer answer - not even close.

why not?
and please dont be rude or snarky. i am simply asking because i am worried. i just turned 18 in still a kid i dont know everything.

You haven't bothered to search a single thing, have you?

Read.

Because the minute she got pregnant, she guaranteed that NO court in the country will view her as being responsible enough to qualify for emancipation. It only tells the court that she needs much MORE adult involvement in her life, not less.

Try reading these to start with, and you will find out why your friend is lmost certainly NOT eligible for emancipation:

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.u.../htm/FA.31.htm

http://www.crossattorney.com/family-...on-of-a-minor/

http://www.looneyconrad.com/family-l....MdcJFVGP.dpbs

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Quoting drayia

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why not?
and please dont be rude or snarky. i am simply asking because i am worried. i just turned 18 in still a kid i dont know everything.

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We spoon feed you the law in this forum. There's a link at the top of the forum that answers frequently asked questions about emancipation, and another that provides links to state-specific information. Had you read either, or had you read any of the hundreds of threads that address emancipation in Texas, the hundreds of threads that ask, "I'm pregnant, so can I get emancipated," or the hundreds of threads that ask, "My parents/guardians are mean or abusive, so can I get emancipated", you wouldn't have needed to post a new thread.

As a basic threshold matter, for emancipation in Texas the minor must be 17 years of age, or at least 16 years of age and living separate and apart from the minor's parents, managing conservator, or guardian. The minor must also be self-supporting and managing the minor's own financial affairs. Your friend does not meet the basic requirements, even before we get to a best interest analysis.

If your friend believes she is being abused, she can involve protective services.

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Quoting Mr. Knowitall

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We spoon feed you the law in this forum. There's a link at the top of the forum that answers frequently asked questions about emancipation, and another that provides links to state-specific information. Had you read either, or had you read any of the hundreds of threads that address emancipation in Texas, the hundreds of threads that ask, "I'm pregnant, so can I get emancipated," or the hundreds of threads that ask, "My parents/guardians are mean or abusive, so can I get emancipated", you wouldn't have needed to post a new thread.

As a basic threshold matter, for emancipation in Texas the minor must be 17 years of age, or at least 16 years of age and living separate and apart from the minor's parents, managing conservator, or guardian. The minor must also be self-supporting and managing the minor's own financial affairs. Your friend does not meet the basic requirements, even before we get to a best interest analysis.

If your friend believes she is being abused, she can involve protective services.

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her grandma just retired from working with child protective services last april so they wouldnt believe her

She has no right to go for a sonogram to glorify her pregnancy. She is a knocked up teen. She was truant from school, if she has no way to get there, she needs to get up earlier and catch the bus. She has no right to a job. It is something grandma allows when she is being responsible. As she is knocked up, that idea went out the window.

Just for the moment let's pretend your friend isn't pregnant.

Is she earning enough money to pay every single penny of what it costs to support her? Is she able to pay the market rate for rent, utilities, food, clothing, transportation, medical care, insurance, school fees and supplies, staples?

And now, let's remember that she's pregnant and will have medical bills in excess of $10,000 and the additional cost for a child.

Making enough to pay all that? While going to school and keeping her grades up?

No?

THAT'S why she cannot be emancipated.

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Quoting Disagreeable

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She has no right to go for a sonogram to glorify her pregnancy. She is a knocked up teen. She was truant from school, if she has no way to get there, she needs to get up earlier and catch the bus. She has no right to a job. It is something grandma allows when she is being responsible. As she is knocked up, that idea went out the window.

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she made a mistake that she has to live with everyday for the rest of her life. she is a human being. i came here for an answer to a question and i asked for a simple elaberation.her grandma handled it like a child. she has known from the start that she was pregnant and she just flipped a switch. you should never push someone who is pregnant.and if she wanted her to quit she could have told my friend that she needs to quit not handle it the way she did, it was immature for a 56 year old woman. my friend is very responsible, that is why we are friends in the first place. her getting pregnant was a mistake on her part but she is fully aware that she has screwed up and she took full responsibility for it. she did exactly what she should have done in that situation. however her grandma was the one in the wrong. she pushed a pregnant woman into the edge of a counter. she lied to her work and called the cops on my friend for something she didnt do and had no controle over. and shes not going to "glorify" her pregnany shes going to make sure that her child is healthy and safe. its not like her grandma pays for anything involving the pregnany. my friend takes care of everything involving it. her grandma does nothing but give her a ride once every month or so, and my friend pays for the gass on the way there.

None of which changes a single word of the law on emancipation.

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Quoting cbg

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None of which changes a single word of the law on emancipation.

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oh i know. but the comment i was replying to was emotionless and rude.

It is, however, in many ways true. The child's health will not be jeopardized if your friend does not learn the gender ahead of time. It is not her grandmother's responsibility to take her to school if she misses the bus - it's her responsibility to get up on time. She didn't go to school? She's skipping. She is not entitled by law to a phone of her own. Whether Grandma goes to work or not is between Grandma and her employer and has nothing to do with your friend.

Your friend needs to understand that once the baby is born, Grandma does not have any legal obligation to lift a single finger. She has no responsibility to take care of the child, or take her and the baby to the doctor, or do anything at all. It is going to be 100% on your friend. She needs to get used to that idea right now and start taking responsibility for herself. And no, she will not qualify to be emancipated then, either; not unless she's got the money to pay everything I mentioned above.

Ahhhh teens, they think they know everything.

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Quoting cbg

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It is, however, in many ways true. The child's health will not be jeopardized if your friend does not learn the gender ahead of time. It is not her grandmother's responsibility to take her to school if she misses the bus - it's her responsibility to get up on time. She didn't go to school? She's skipping. She is not entitled by law to a phone of her own. Whether Grandma goes to work or not is between Grandma and her employer and has nothing to do with your friend.

Your friend needs to understand that once the baby is born, Grandma does not have any legal obligation to lift a single finger. She has no responsibility to take care of the child, or take her and the baby to the doctor, or do anything at all. It is going to be 100% on your friend. She needs to get used to that idea right now and start taking responsibility for herself. And no, she will not qualify to be emancipated then, either; not unless she's got the money to pay everything I mentioned above.

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she is completly aware, ater the baby is born her grandma wants nothing to do with her, and her grandma is retired the job thing was about my friend not the grandma. and school is too far for her to walk while pregnant or she would have shes done it before. she wasnt asking for a phone she was asking to make a phone call to tell her boss she couldnt come in today but her grandma said no and she accepted it but then her graandma called my friends work and got her fired.
my friend (lets call her hannah because i dont want to give out any names) hannahs grandma is planning on kicking her out when shes 17 and moving to the lake house in a completly different city. she caused hanah to lose her job knowing that she would be screwed when the baby came.

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people with your attitude seriously get on my nerves. i asked a question because i was curious. there is no reason for snarkiness. im not arguing with anyone or giving an attitude i am just trying to best explain the situation in its entirety.

People like Hannah seriously get on my nerves because they make all their decisions with impunity and expect the grownups to foot the bills. Then they scream for emancipation so they can go on welfare and get more taxpayer money.

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Quoting drayia

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people with your attitude seriously get on my nerves. i asked a question because i was curious.

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Dear, the feeling is likely mutual.

Okay, so Hannah's grandmother is not a nice person. That's a shame.

It does not give Hannah any options. The law is not going to change because Hannah is in a bad position (much of her own making).

Hannah is going to have to deal.

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Quoting Dogmatique

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Dear, the feeling is likely mutual.

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when i said that i was refering to "disagreeable" not you. i dont see why im being attacked for asking questions. and they arent bad questions. how do you expect people to learn if they dont ask questions.

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Quoting Disagreeable

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People like Hannah seriously get on my nerves because they make all their decisions with impunity and expect the grownups to foot the bills. Then they scream for emancipation so they can go on welfare and get more taxpayer money.

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shes not keeping the baby. i never said she was keeping the baby. (adoption) her grandma knows shes not keeping the baby. there is absolutly no reason to be attacking her.

And what Doggie said was directed to Dis, not you.

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Quoting cbg

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And what Doggie said was directed to Dis, not you.

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Um...it wasn't...

Well, this is awkward.

Where is the father in all of this mess anyway? Did I miss that part?

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i dont see why im being attacked for asking questions.

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"Attacked"? Where?

Get a thicker skin, kiddo. You're going to need it in today's economy.

It was not emotionless, I hate to see my tax dollars wasted on undeserving kids. If you think that was rude, wait until you deal with adults in the real world.

you all think that i am to young to understand that that im immature and just some young dumb teen. yes i am young. i am 18. i dont know everything. im sorry for trying to explain the entire situation . i tryed to just so that it was completly understood. it would seem that there are some people who like to attack people who have questions. i would like to point out that maybe thats why kids are so afraid to speak up. because everytime they do they get attacked. there are worse things in the world than this situation i am trying to describe. there are worse things in the world than the worse thing thats happened to you in your entire life. yall think im immature. yall think that wisdom comes with age but it doesnt. yes it helps but wisdom and intelligents comes with experience. I AM YOUNG! but i am far from stupid. i dont know everything and you shouldnt expect me to im a teenager. i dont expect yall to know everything just because yall are older. THIS IS MOSTLY DIRECTED TO "DISAGREEABLE" so dont take offence. all i am saying is that from the little comments that have been said throughout this entire thing. i am very disapointed to have people like this to have to look up to. no sence of understanding no emotion. that is no way to live a life. yes it hard and it breaks you down sometimes but if you have nothing better to do than to attack people like this and to throw out little rude comments here and there then please stop. i wanted to be 100% clear on the topic thats why i kept the conversation going. i understand that there isnt now. but this isnt a debate. this isnt a way for you to talk bad about people you dont even know. how are you any better than a bully? i had a question. i got the answer. that is all i needed. i didnt not ask or need any of this. i did not deserve any of this. so "disagreeable" grow up a little. your not 18 you dont have an excuse.

One would hope if you are 18, you are close to graduation and have learned the basics of the internet search to learn laws. When we grew up we had to go to the library and research it book by book. That is one problem with your generation, you have managed to make Common Sense a Super Power.

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i am very disapointed to have people like this to have to look up to.

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I am disappointed in your inability to spell, capitalize, punctuate, and construct a grammatically correct sentence. I am also disappointed in your need to throw a toddler tantrum at the age of 18.

Seriously, you're not being "attacked". You want to be treated like an adult? Comport yourself as one.

im still a teenager im still a kid. im not ready to join the real world, what i see here is a group of adults acting like children. i dont have to join the real world just yet. i would like to enjoy my time as a kid before i get shattered by life.

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this is why "my generation" is the way that it is. they have been broken down their entire life by hardasses.
seriously i just wanted an answer to the question. a complete answer. now i have it.

The age of majority in Texas is 18. You are a big girl now. You have all the rights and responsibilities of an adult your age. I will tell you one thing, Texas has more liberal runaway laws for 17 year olds. Though they cannot move in with a boyfriend etc... they can under some circumstances become constructively emancipated. Research the issue and you will understand what options are available to her without anyone being arrested for harboring her.


http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/CP/6/129/129.001

Then by all means go out and do so. No one is suggesting that you do otherwise. Unless, as I have suspected all along, you are Hannah.

i came to this site because i thought it could help. i thought i would be talking to adults

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im not hannah i can promise you that. im not stupid enoough to be pregnant in highschool. she really is my bestfriend but her real name isnt hannah

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how could i have been hannah? im 18 i dont need to get emansipated if i want to move out i will but i dont. im happy at my house with my family

I thought I would be talking to adults = no one is telling me what I want to hear

Read what I posted during your latest rant. Research it and you can help Hannah. After you research it and learn the laws that apply come back and we or at least I will answer any questions you have about it. The answers are in the Texas Statutes.

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Quoting drayia

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i came to this site because i thought it could help. i thought i would be talking to adults

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im not hannah i can promise you that. im not stupid enoough to be pregnant in highschool. she really is my bestfriend but her real name isnt hannah

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how could i have been hannah? im 18 i dont need to get emansipated if i want to move out i will but i dont. im happy at my house with my family

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i dont want her get emansipated. shes almost 17 shes getting kicked out then anyway. she wanted an answer and i couldnt get a straight answer anywhere so i came here. im hereing exactly what i wanted to here just not how i wanted to hear it

Kid, you are killing me. I have looked up those darn TX statutes for at least 20 teens. Check back later, I will dig them up again. I believe in tough love. I don't want to see a child on the streets.
Read 25.03, 25.04 and 25.06.

http://law.onecle.com/texas/penal/chapter25.html

im sorry

If she gets "kicked out" then she can call the authorities who can take action against her guardian (grandma). They can also find a placement for her and provide for her. But, emancipation is not a realistic possibility at this time.

If she gets kicked out, she can file for child support in her new home. Drayia, no need to apologize, I was tough with you on purpose. Our goal as volunteers here is not to encourage every teen to run away from home as soon as they can. You said it yourself, you do not view yourself as an adult even though you are 18. I have a son 17 and a step daughter 20. If I gave in to them every time they said I was being mean or I was abusive, they would not be forged into the young adults they have become.

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Quoting Disagreeable

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If she gets kicked out, she can file for child support in her new home. Drayia, no need to apologize, I was tough with you on purpose. Our goal as volunteers here is not to encourage every teen to run away from home as soon as they can. You said it yourself, you do not view yourself as an adult even though you are 18. I have a son 17 and a step daughter 20. If I gave in to them every time they said I was being mean or I was abusive, they would not be forged into the young adults they have become.

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thank you.

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some advice though? i come from a "tough love" kind of family. maybe my families "tough love" was different than yours but from my experience their "tough love" didnt have a positive effect on my mental stabability, it had the complete opposite. im gonna go now. thank you for all your help.