Getting Emancipated for Employment Reasons

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Tennessee
I'm currently 15 and won't be turning 16 until the end of May next year. I'm graduating in what is supposed to be my junior year, so it'll be a year early. I have a 4.0 GPA, spent my freshman year in JROTC, have volunteered and done community service quite a bit, am in an organization called Teen Court where juveniles face peers their own age in court for minor crimes, and I have never been in trouble with the law. Because I plan on graduating early, I'd like to get emancipated after graduating so I'll be able to get a job that pays more than 7.25 an hour, I plan on going to college and would like to support myself. I do plan on getting scholarships, but there are so many other aspects to life like owning a car and getting insurance and finding housing that require money. But with becoming a legal adult, I have the right to be hired at these companies and therefore will be able to support myself and have a comfortable lifestyle. I have doubts that my parents will not sign the papers to allow me to become emancipated. So I'm asking for your expert opinions, do you think the reasons I've given will allow me to become emancipated? Thank you in advance.

There is not even a ghost of a remote chance that these reasons will allow you to be emancipation. There has never been an instance of a minor being emancipated so that they can get a job. If they do not already have not just a job, but a job that will allow them to pay 100% of their own expenses, you don't qualify for emancipation under the law. This is a flat out, NO.

NO ONE, regardless of their age, has a "right" to be hired anywhere.

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Quoting Kayleighnicole

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...I'd like to get emancipated after graduating so I'll be able to get a job that pays more than 7.25 an hour....

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Whether you're a minor, an emancipated minor, or an adult by virtue of age, no employer is obligated to pay you more than minimum wage.

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Quoting Kayleighnicole

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I have a 4.0 GPA, spent my freshman year in JROTC,

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Then consider enlisting in one of the US Armed Forces when you are 17 and have your HS diploma. Your parents are likely to agree to sign those papers. That's emancipation right there. You'll have a job and an income, most of which you can stash away in the bank because the military takes care of food, clothing, and shelter.

When you have completed your enlistment term you'll have money in the bank and be able to go to college on the GI Bill instead of incurring soul-crushing student loans.

Yes, I did guess from your user name that you are female. The suggestion is still a good one as there are plenty of opportunities for women in the military.

Everybody in TN is all jacked up about emancipation for teenagers because on our very own soap opera, Nashville, a teenage character got emancipated last season. But then again....she was a singin' star with a career ahead of her and a recording contract in the works. It just doesn't happen in real time very often. There's no way to evade the OSHA laws and other requirements that keep a lot of employers from hiring people under 18. Being emancipated doesn't change your biological age. You can't make yourself 18 and excused from the laws and regs that are the reasons most places won't hire you if you're not 18 by going to court to become emancipated even if you could afford to do it and had some remote chance of qualifying.

Did this answer my question? No. And did you twist my words? Yes. Thanks for the wise words, Mr. Knowitall. You sure do know it all.

I've actually never watched the show and do not wish to legally become an adult because of some soap opera, but thanks for inputting your two cents and not actually answering my question.

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Quoting Kayleighnicole

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Did this answer my question? No. And did you twist my words? Yes. Thanks for the wise words, Mr. Knowitall. You sure do know it all.

I've actually never watched the show and do not wish to legally become an adult because of some soap opera, but thanks for inputting your two cents and not actually answering my question.

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Actually yes, your question was answered.

At least once. Heck, the first post after yours answered it.

No


is that clear enough for you?

You are not eligible to be emancipated.
Even if emancipated, why would you think that entitles you to a higher paying job? Emancipation only removes specific disabilities (inability to enter into contracts, etc...). It won't remove other things denied you: employment age restrictions, drinking age, drivers license restrictions, etc...

I already answered your question.

No. You will not be emancipated on the basis you have provided. There is not even a remote chance of it. It will not happen. Period.

Unless, of course, your parents agree to sign for you to follow AJ's suggestion. That's the only way emancipation is even a gleam in reality's eye.

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Quoting Kayleighnicole

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Did this answer my question? No. And did you twist my words? Yes. Thanks for the wise words, Mr. Knowitall. You sure do know it all.

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My goodness, you are a bratty little snot, aren't you.

You were clearly told that you have not stated any basis for emancipation. I added that your notion that emancipation would somehow entitle you to more than minimum wage was incorrect.

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Quoting Kayleighnicole

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Because I plan on graduating early, I'd like to get emancipated after graduating so I'll be able to get a job that pays more than 7.25 an hour, I plan on going to college and would like to support myself.

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As you have been told, wanting a job is not a basis for emancipation. And as apparently it was lost on you the first time around, getting emancipated will not affect minimum wage laws as they apply to you.

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Quoting Kayleighnicole

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But with becoming a legal adult, I have the right to be hired at these companies....

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No, you do not. Becoming emancipated does not give you any special right to employment, nor does any company have to hire a minor merely because she has been emancipated. If you want to work for a company that won't hire anybody under the age of 18, you will have to wait to work for that company (if they want to hire you) until you reach the age of 18.

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Quoting Kayleighnicole

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I have doubts that my parents will not sign the papers to allow me to become emancipated.

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If your parents see what you have showed us here -- you do well in school, but you are very immature and have little conception of how the real world works -- that would be understandable.

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Quoting Kayleighnicole

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So I'm asking for your expert opinions, do you think the reasons I've given will allow me to become emancipated?

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You have not actually stated any grounds for emancipation. You have stated that you are doing well in school and don't have a criminal record, but that doesn't make you special -- it simply means that you don't have factors (poor academic performance, a police / criminal history) that a court would view as weighing against emancipation. You have indicated that your parents will probably oppose your petition -- that's a negative.

You have not indicated that you have any present capacity to support yourself. You have not indicated that you understand what is involved in supporting yourself. You have not indicated that you live independently. You have not indicated any need to enter into binding contracts. And the list goes on.

So rather than throwing a public temper tantrum and insulting people because you're not hearing what you wanted to hear, how about you try to make a case for your emancipation?