Can You Get Emancipated So That You Can Work and Pursue a GED
My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Washington.
I am a 17 year old female who was born and raised in the state of Washington. My parents filed for divorce when I was 4 years old. The current custody agreement is one week with mother, and one week with father. When I turned 10 my father became physically injured and was put on disability. My mother moved back in with him. A case was opened for child abuse against my father when I was 13. It is open until I turn 18 as there wasn't enough evidence to charge him, but enough to leave the case open.
My joint family income has been below the poverty line since I was 10. At age 15 my father kicked my mother out and she moved in with her boy friend a mile away. I moved in with her and started attending running start to gain college credit while still going to high school. I struggled with my grades as I have an anxiety disorder and wasn't given disability accommodations until 2 quarters into schooling. My grades continued to slip when my mother left me at random at my fathers house and brought my stuff over. She packed my bags for me and told me I was no longer welcome in her home. I got a part time job at a retail store named Fred Meyers. I make $9.67 and work 20 hours a week and have been working for 8 months now. I have taken care of my doctors appointments, dentist appointments, school paperwork, work related paper work and so on. I did all of this on my own.
My mother was clearly absent from my life for the next 8 months, only speaking to me every few weeks and seeing me maybe once a month. My father gave me verbal permission to move out and when I did, my mother requested I come talk with her. She had convinced my dad that I had been lying and they took my car, for which I had paid for with my own money. My father is an alcoholic, with a medical marijuana card and many class A pain killers. He is constantly intoxicated with some form of substance.
I want to get my GED or continue schooling online and get another job so I can become more self suffienent. I pay for my own clothes, food, gas, doctor co-payments and so on. My parents will not allow me to move out of my fathers house. They are forcing me to attend regular high school for which my current job schedule will not fit with. They have restricted my mobility, which has inhibited my ability to be in social situations which can help improve my maturity. They have restricted my ability to further my education and financial plans and I would like to be emancipated due to these issues.
My mother isn't present in my life and my father cannot properly make good judgment calls due to the substances he takes. What are my chances of getting emancipated?
Re: Am I Eligable for Emancipation
Quote:
13.64.050
Emancipation decree—Certified copy—Notation of emancipated status.
(1) The court shall grant the petition for emancipation, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, if the petitioner proves the following facts by clear and convincing evidence: (a) That the petitioner is sixteen years of age or older; (b) that the petitioner is a resident of the state; (c) that the petitioner has the ability to manage his or her financial affairs; and (d) that the petitioner has the ability to manage his or her personal, social, educational, and nonfinancial affairs.
(2) A parent, guardian, custodian, or in the case of a dependent minor, the department, may oppose the petition for emancipation. The court shall deny the petition unless it finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that denial of the grant of emancipation would be detrimental to the interests of the minor.
Nope. not going to happen. The above section of the RCW says that you have to be able to manage your various affairs (see 1st bolded section). The anxiety disorder is a red flag. Also, you will REQUIRE permission of your parents and it certainly doesn't seem that is terribly likely. Finally, the default position of the court is no unless you can convince them otherwise.
In order to become emancipated you have to prove that you can pay market rent, not live with a friend, provide medical insurance for yourself, feed yourself, clothe yourself, pay utilities, and the list goes on... If you live in western WA, especially in King, Snohomish or Pierce counties then there is no way that you could afford it and go to school. There are many people who are educated, have decent jobs and can't afford it!
As to your car and other belongings: Washington doesn't permit a minor to be the registered owner of a car (there are a few exceptions but don't apply here). What this means is that you don't actually own a car, you bought a parent a car. If the car IS in your name the person who transferred title to you is guilty of a misdemeanor and if you did it yourself and lied to do it then you are guilty of a misdemeanor and can be sentenced to 90 days in the pokey and a $250 fine.
What all of the above means is that you are under your parents thumb until you are 18. If you are being abused still then you should contact DCFS and they may place you in foster care. Your belongings are theirs with a few possible exceptions and when you are 18 they can refuse to allow you to take them with you. When you are 18 you will then be free to seek your fortune elsewhere. In the meantime, if both parents agree that you can move out the go ahead, but know that they can revoke that permission at any time.
I forgot to mention that you have to be already managing said affairs. That means living on your own, not having a plan to do so.
Re: Am I Eligable for Emancipation
Your self dependency (claimed) would help prove your ability to fend for yourself. Your biggest problem is you haven't maintained your own household and all the expenses that go with that. That is a HUGE problem. You don't make enough to live on your own and because of that a court is unlikely to emancipate you.
While I have sympathy due to your dads issues (some painkillers can cause some serious behavior issues, including violent outbursts), I suspect you would not be emancipated. You should speak with your school counselor (if available. Some schools do not have a system in place to really do much) or since your case with cps is still open, your caseworker.
Especially given your age I wouldn't expect much to happen. You are likely stuck with waiting until you are no longer a minor when you can move out like you want.
Re: Can You Get Emancipated So That You Can Work and Pursue a GED
Quote:
Quoting
B.taylor14
My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Washington.
I am a 17 year old female who was born and raised in the state of Washington. My parents filed for divorce when I was 4 years old. The current custody agreement is one week with mother, and one week with father. When I turned 10 my father became physically injured and was put on disability. My mother moved back in with him. A case was opened for child abuse against my father when I was 13. It is open until I turn 18 as there wasn't enough evidence to charge him, but enough to leave the case open.
My joint family income has been below the poverty line since I was 10. At age 15 my father kicked my mother out and she moved in with her boy friend a mile away. I moved in with her and started attending running start to gain college credit while still going to high school. I struggled with my grades as I have an anxiety disorder and wasn't given disability accommodations until 2 quarters into schooling. My grades continued to slip when my mother left me at random at my fathers house and brought my stuff over. She packed my bags for me and told me I was no longer welcome in her home. I got a part time job at a retail store named Fred Meyers. I make $9.67 and work 20 hours a week and have been working for 8 months now. I have taken care of my doctors appointments, dentist appointments, school paperwork, work related paper work and so on. I did all of this on my own.
My mother was clearly absent from my life for the next 8 months, only speaking to me every few weeks and seeing me maybe once a month. My father gave me verbal permission to move out and when I did, my mother requested I come talk with her. She had convinced my dad that I had been lying and they took my car, for which I had paid for with my own money. My father is an alcoholic, with a medical marijuana card and many class A pain killers. He is constantly intoxicated with some form of substance.
I want to get my GED or continue schooling online and get another job so I can become more self suffienent. I pay for my own clothes, food, gas, doctor co-payments and so on. My parents will not allow me to move out of my fathers house. They are forcing me to attend regular high school for which my current job schedule will not fit with. They have restricted my mobility, which has inhibited my ability to be in social situations which can help improve my maturity. They have restricted my ability to further my education and financial plans and I would like to be emancipated due to these issues.
My mother isn't present in my life and my father cannot properly make good judgment calls due to the substances he takes. What are my chances of getting emancipated?
It also seems Mom isn't exactly absent from your life.
Re: Can You Get Emancipated So That You Can Work and Pursue a GED
Emancipation is not intended to be a means for a minor to leave a bad situation. It is intended to be a means of providing protection to those minors who, for reasons outside their own control, found themselves living on their own.
Never in the history of the topic has there been a teen emancipated in order to allow them to do something. You can't get emancipated so that you can work, or get a GED, or to become self-sufficient. If you aren't ALREADY self-sufficient, you don't qualify to be emancipated.
Re: Can You Get Emancipated So That You Can Work and Pursue a GED
Quote:
Quoting
B.taylor14
My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Washington.
I am a 17 year old female who was born and raised in the state of Washington. My parents filed for divorce when I was 4 years old. The current custody agreement is one week with mother, and one week with father. When I turned 10 my father became physically injured and was put on disability. My mother moved back in with him. A case was opened for child abuse against my father when I was 13. It is open until I turn 18 as there wasn't enough evidence to charge him, but enough to leave the case open.
My joint family income has been below the poverty line since I was 10. At age 15 my father kicked my mother out and she moved in with her boy friend a mile away. I moved in with her and started attending running start to gain college credit while still going to high school. I struggled with my grades as I have an anxiety disorder and wasn't given disability accommodations until 2 quarters into schooling. My grades continued to slip when my mother left me at random at my fathers house and brought my stuff over. She packed my bags for me and told me I was no longer welcome in her home. I got a part time job at a retail store named Fred Meyers. I make $9.67 and work 20 hours a week and have been working for 8 months now. I have taken care of my doctors appointments, dentist appointments, school paperwork, work related paper work and so on. I did all of this on my own.
My mother was clearly absent from my life for the next 8 months, only speaking to me every few weeks and seeing me maybe once a month. My father gave me verbal permission to move out and when I did, my mother requested I come talk with her. She had convinced my dad that I had been lying and they took my car, for which I had paid for with my own money. My father is an alcoholic, with a medical marijuana card and many class A pain killers. He is constantly intoxicated with some form of substance.
I want to get my GED or continue schooling online and get another job so I can become more self suffienent. I pay for my own clothes, food, gas, doctor co-payments and so on. My parents will not allow me to move out of my fathers house. They are forcing me to attend regular high school for which my current job schedule will not fit with. They have restricted my mobility, which has inhibited my ability to be in social situations which can help improve my maturity. They have restricted my ability to further my education and financial plans and I would like to be emancipated due to these issues.
My mother isn't present in my life and my father cannot properly make good judgment calls due to the substances he takes. What are my chances of getting emancipated?
Absolutely zero.
No ifs, ands or buts. If the state finds a reason to remove you from your father's house, you'll be placed in another home under the care of another adult - you will not be emancipated.
Re: Can You Get Emancipated So That You Can Work and Pursue a GED
Quote:
Quoting
B.taylor14
My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Washington.
I am a 17 year old female who was born and raised in the state of Washington. My parents filed for divorce when I was 4 years old. The current custody agreement is one week with mother, and one week with father. When I turned 10 my father became physically injured and was put on disability. My mother moved back in with him. A case was opened for child abuse against my father when I was 13. It is open until I turn 18 as there wasn't enough evidence to charge him, but enough to leave the case open.
My joint family income has been below the poverty line since I was 10. At age 15 my father kicked my mother out and she moved in with her boy friend a mile away. I moved in with her and started attending running start to gain college credit while still going to high school. I struggled with my grades as I have an anxiety disorder and wasn't given disability accommodations until 2 quarters into schooling. My grades continued to slip when my mother left me at random at my fathers house and brought my stuff over. She packed my bags for me and told me I was no longer welcome in her home. I got a part time job at a retail store named Fred Meyers. I make $9.67 and work 20 hours a week and have been working for 8 months now. I have taken care of my doctors appointments, dentist appointments, school paperwork, work related paper work and so on. I did all of this on my own.
My mother was clearly absent from my life for the next 8 months, only speaking to me every few weeks and seeing me maybe once a month. My father gave me verbal permission to move out and when I did, my mother requested I come talk with her. She had convinced my dad that I had been lying and they took my car, for which I had paid for with my own money. My father is an alcoholic, with a medical marijuana card and many class A pain killers. He is constantly intoxicated with some form of substance.
I want to get my GED or continue schooling online and get another job so I can become more self suffienent. I pay for my own clothes, food, gas, doctor co-payments and so on. My parents will not allow me to move out of my fathers house. They are forcing me to attend regular high school for which my current job schedule will not fit with. They have restricted my mobility, which has inhibited my ability to be in social situations which can help improve my maturity. They have restricted my ability to further my education and financial plans and I would like to be emancipated due to these issues.
My mother isn't present in my life and my father cannot properly make good judgment calls due to the substances he takes. What are my chances of getting emancipated?
Your chances are slim to none. In fact they are none. Look at all the other emancipation threads on this page.