Emancipation Without Parental Consent

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Quoting nlove

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And so I've come to find out, it's sad really.

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Other than emancipation, what other option did you imagine there would be?

You say you are seeing a counselor. If the counselor had reason to suspect you are being abused. The counselor would have to notify CPS. Then CPS would decide if you are being abused. If they decided you are being abused. They could remove you and put you in a foster home until your parents received counseling

Since you asked for brutal honesty, even though you didn't seem to like being given it, I'm going to give you a little more.

There are two ways for a minor to leave their home before the age of majority, which as you've already pointed out is not until 19 in your state. One way is WITH parental permission. The other is if you are removed by the state.

There simply isn't another way for a minor to legally leave home against his or her parents' wishes unless s/he is removed from the home because of abuse. When I said there were other options, that's what I was referring to.

And let's be frank here; either the abuse is bad enough to report or it's not. If it is, then you need to call the authorities, whether that means CPS or the police EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. If it's not, then you're going to have to suck it up. (Yes, I'm being blunt on purpose.)

We used to have a moderator on this site whose parents literally nearly killed her. I'm talking comatose in the hospital for two weeks. She used to really blast the kids who only wanted out if it could be on their terms. If you're really being abused, she would tell them, then you want out no matter how it happens or where you end up because ANYTHING is better than what you've got. If you only want out when you get to dictate where you go, then it can't really be that bad.

Don't take my word for it. Her posts are all still here. Check out some of the posts from LawResearcherMissy.

Then give it some thought. You're the only one who knows if it's worth reporting or not. But unless your parents give you permission to move out, then the ONLY way you're leaving before you're 19 is if the state takes you out. In which case the state says where you go. It might be with another relative. It might be foster care. It might be a group home. But wherever it is, it'll be away from your parents. So which is your better option? These are the only ones you've got.

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Other than emancipation, what other option did you imagine there would be?

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Being honest with you, none! I didn't even know emancipation WAS an option. I mean, it's hardly an option given under the circumstances, but like you said. I quickly realized there isn't much option for me to begin with. I'd either have to report or it and go through the state or leave it alone.

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Since you asked for brutal honesty, even though you didn't seem to like being given it, I'm going to give you a little more.

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Honestly one of the best responses I've received so far. I know I wanted people to be brutally honest with me, believe it or not, I still don't take it back. It was just harder for me to be able to grasp and accept the reality of the responses I was getting, as you can tell by the way I reacted in my earlier posts. And, it really is something I'll have to think about. I think I find it so hard for me to report it because of the outcome. Like you said, anywhere is better than my situation. And it is, but, I also have siblings I would be leaving who need me. That's really where I'm left with one option, and that's to put up with it until I'm old enough to go to college. Till then I'll really just need to find ways to make my living situation easier for me. Whether that's continuing counseling or etc.

And you don't think the authorities will take other children in the home into consideration?

Oh no, I KNOW they will take my siblings into consideration as well. And I don't want them to go through that because my parents don't abuse them like they do me. So to also willingly put them in that situation is also another reason why I don't report it.

Because my family has had first hand experience with this before with my brother, but on another issue. He's now been in several foster homes, and as a result I too have been questioned on the safety of home. Mainly why I turn to counseling rather then reporting it, because I've been given the option by my school counselor to report it. But turned it down for this same reason.

Your school counselor doesn't have a choice to report it. If they believe you are being abused, they are required to report it. They don't get to just give you a choice.

Which is why it took me back when she gave me the option. I know counselors are required to report it, heck even teachers are required to report it. But she gave me the OPTION, which makes me think if she really believes me on the severity of my situation. Is it different with physical abuse? I am serious when I ask this, but are victims of emotional abuse given a different approach? Of course there is a huge difference between the two, whereas one is physical and the other is not.

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Quoting nlove

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Which is why it took me back when she gave me the option. I know counselors are required to report it, heck even teachers are required to report it. But she gave me the OPTION, which makes me think if she really believes me on the severity of my situation. Is it different with physical abuse? I am serious when I ask this, but are victims of emotional abuse given a different approach? Of course there is a huge difference between the two, whereas one is physical and the other is not.

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It sounds like the counselor is shirking their duty to report. If you report anything that even has a hint of the odor of abuse the counselor is legally bound to report it and let the authorities assess the situation. It's not within their purview to make that assessment.

As to emotional abuse; Nebraska has a legal definition for emotional abuse and it is considered a crime but can be more difficult to prove. Many teenagers feel they are being emotionally abused and it's nothing more than the boundaries that parents set or the discipline set in place by a parent.

Again, if you feel that you are being abused, or your siblings are being abused, then you should report it to the police, DHHS or another counselor or teacher.

The one event of a physical nature is questionable as to whether it would be seen as abusive. Depening on all the facts it may or may not be.

Unless there is more true physical abuse, chances are if cps became involved they might go the route of demanding counseling. I doubt they would do much though given the actions you’ve described.