Pre-Emancipation Planning
I'm 15 years old and currently reside in Newport News, Virginia. I've been considering emancipation for almost a year now (although I'm well aware I can't actually proceed until my 16th birthday). Mainly starting with indifferences in my house as well as living with a single mom who could barely financially support ourselves and obviously not our dog who died of starvation. Recently she's become married and dependent on her spouse and their shared banking account. I regularly seclude myself from them as well as his two children and we go to a family councelor who agrees that socially, living in this house isn't in my best interest. In order to train myself to become self-dependent until I am 16 I've started working a part-time job, pathetically, at McDonalds only earning $5.75/h. Recently though, I've applied at an up-scale Hibachi Japanese resturant as a waitress and my starting wage is $9.65/h and I'll begin working during the summer full time earning that as well as tips. I also intend on taking a form of 'living skills' classes to be 100% sure I know the basics to living on my own because currently my knowledge extends cooking and doing laundry. I'd hate to go into details about my family situation after reading numerous post along the lines of "i h8 my mom can i be emancipated" but in a quick summary, I believe if my plans fall through I will be mentally and financially stable to live on my own. I'm curious of my chances of being emancipated? If you have any questions about my status to help you answer, please ask.
Thanks.
Re: Pre-Emancipation planning?
First off you do not have the $9.00 an hour job yet! Second how will you keep it and work enough hours (while going to school) to support yourself 100%? As with most teens you feel you know more than you actually do. I would focus on your family therapy and by the way the therapist says
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that socially, living in this house isn't in my best interest
this is far from saying emancipation is your best result to this.
Re: Pre-Emancipation planning?
Oh no, I've actually been interviewed and hired for the job but I don't actually start full time until this summer. Secondly, I attend a Votech school which I'm only required to go to school from 9:00 until 1:05 every weekday so my hours are decently flexible to allow me to work full time- however I'm actually legally not allowed to work full time during school days unless I'm considered emancipated. Ultimately I'd be making around $650 minimum per two week paycheck making over $1,300 monthly if I work at least 35 hours a week. The living requirements of Newport News say I need to be making at least 3 times my rent to reside in my own house so quite honestly, I meet the standards to live in a crappy $350/monthly 1 bedroom apartment with at least $950 remaining on utilities and basic living needs. My question isn't wether I will be self sufficient, my question is can I be emancipated simply on the grounds that I can completely support myself?
Re: Pre-Emancipation Planning
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Ultimately I'd be making around $650 minimum
Its what you rmaking at time of petition not three months later!
Re: Pre-Emancipation Planning
No. Even if a judge agrees that a $9 an hour job is "completely supporting yourself" that is NOT sufficient for a petition to be granted. Essentially you have to show that you can do a better job of raising yourself that your parents can. Being self-sufficient is a requirement, but it is not the ONLY requirement.