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Need for Emancipation Help

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  • 08-03-2007, 06:04 PM
    Brandi C
    Need for Emancipation Help
    My name is Brandi, and I am 17 years of age... soon to be 18 in November, and reside in the Commonwealth state of Virginia. My reason for emancipation is because of all of the emotional and physical abuse in this household. My mother barely makes minimum wage, and works only 3 days a week, sometimes 4 depending on production. My father has been disabled and is unable to work because of a back injury he indured almost 12 years ago. He draws a diability check every month, but with both incomes combined, is really not enough to pay all bills and buy groceries. My parents fight and argue with each other constantly and nearly 5 out of the 7 days in the week are completely intoxicated, or are under the influence of alcohol. There have been instances where my father would accuse my mother of cheating and lying, and I would wake up to the sound of a steaming hot cup of coffee being thrown through the house, with the cup ending up in my room. A lot of nights, when I'm trying to get rest for school the next day, I'm awakened by the sound of yelling and arguing in the next room. And for the past few years, the aggression and stress has been taken out on me... Many times before my brother moved out, my father would physically beat him in front of me, and threaten to hit me as well. There has also been a time when my mother came in to the house, and was so intoxicated that she could barely speak or walk, I was standing in the kitchen fixing something to eat, and she came in yelling at me and then pushed me into the living room. A few months back my mother finally decided to take me to the doctor and he diagnosed me with depression and very high stress levels, he prescribed me anti-depressants, which my mother decided were not necessary and would not get me the prescription. Her reason for doing so was that she had to deal with the same kind of problems and never needed anti-depressants, so she felt that I didn't either. I am also told by them that I am a whore, a bitch, and that they are ashamed to be my parents from a day to day basis. I tell them that if I cause that much trouble, to just go ahead and let me leave, but I cannot put up with the emotional abuse and the smell of alcohol from a day to day basis, I'm now trying to find a job and finish the last year of highschool, and I feel that living in this environment would alter my ability to succeed. I have had several close friends and family members tell me that I need to get out of this household as soon as possible, and that they would gladly let me live there and held me out any way they could. I only have 2 months before I turn 18, but honestly doubt I could put up with this for 2 months longer. Please send me any information on how to go about the emancipation process, if I need parental consent for doing so, how long the process will take, and if I qualify for emancipation. (If possible, send me a link where I can get reliable information on the qualifications for emancipation.)

    Thank you so much.

    Sincerely,
    Brandi
  • 08-03-2007, 06:41 PM
    panther10758
    Re: Need for Emancipation Help
    You will turn 18 before the process is complete

    Quoting Virginia Code § 16.1-331. Petition for emancipation.
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    Any minor who has reached his sixteenth birthday and is residing in this Commonwealth, or any parent or guardian of such minor, may petition the juvenile and domestic relations district court for the county or city in which either the minor or his parents or guardian resides for a determination that the minor named in the petition be emancipated. The petition shall contain, in addition to the information required by § 16.1-262, the gender of the minor and, if the petitioner is not the minor, the name of the petitioner and the relationship of the petitioner to the minor.
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