17 Years Old PA Emancipation

I am 17 years old in PA. I have been living with my father for almost two years now. Originally, when i first moved in with my father i had never really lived with him. Even as a child i never saw him more than everyother weekend even with him still being married to my mother still. However, we still had a good relationship until he met his fiancee. Before he met her I could talk to him about everything. he was essentially like my best friend even at the age of 16. But after meeting her he completely changed. Now, if i talk to him he tells her and she complains to me. The only good thing that has come from her was that they let my boyfriend live with me. My boyfriend and I generally do all of the house work which of course i have to do just for living there thats to be expected. But i cant stand to be there anymore. Everyday I have to deal with her incessant nit picking about everything while i am at school. Right now i am in my senior year, and i have just gotten a job. That i will start tomorrow and i am looking for a second job. My boyfriend is also looking for a job. Ill be 18 in january but even my mother believes that she is trying to get all of my siblings out of the house. They have already forced my 13 year old sister to move to my mothers home in south carolina and have essentially left me as the maid. The bills at the house are generally not paid or overdue. So when it came down to school I only have three pairs of pants and she complained about having to pay my medical bills, not to mention after her incessant nagging to get a job, doesnt want to help me get my uniform for it even just one shirt. What i want is to be able to live out on my own. My father doesnt know what goes on at home because he is always on the road from 2 in the afternoon to at least 12 at night. His fiancee complains that she has a bad back (so she cant do any chores) and commutes four hours everyday for a crappy job. so when she gets home she goes to her room despite me needing stuff for school. when my father is home for a day off it is her time. The other day I tried using the gas grill to cook dinner and there was too much gas and essentially blew up in my face singing my hair and all she was worried about was whether i used her matches or how when i thought i broke a finger they didnt want to interupt their date day to get an x-ray. I cant stand to be there and broke down crying today cuz i can not handle their constant complaining I dont know whether I am nearly able to get emancipated but if you need more details just let me know i can go on and on.

Emancipation and abuse have nothing to do with each other, except that when teens believe they are being treated poorly it is often the reason why they seek it. If you believe that your situation constitutes abuse, then one or more reports to your local social services office MIGHT get you removed from the home, but will only land you in foster care - not provide emancipation. At teh state level, PA doesn't have official statutes for emancipation of a minor, although several counties do allow for it, and you must be a resident of the one of those counties (work with a lawyer to determine if this applies to you). If you are not a resident in one of those counties, stop and don't pass go until you are 18 and a legal adult.

You must have a job (and a decent history at that job already established before you bother to apply), have a place to live that is independent from anybody else (no living with friends, relatives, friends of relatives, etc.), show that you can conduct yourself in the manner of a capable, law abiding adult and be able to support yourself with no assistance from ANYONE (rent, utilities, health insurance, transportation, food, medical expenses, etc.). The court may also require you to provide financial statements, financial plans, medical records, recomendations, and a psychological evaluation to ensure that you are not suffering from mental issues and ARE capable of living on your own with no parent or adult guardian to have the care and control of you.

You must also present to the court a very good reason why emancipation is in your best interest and is the best option to resolve your living situation. Not getting along with parents/step parents is not even close to a good reason. If your parent or guardian objects to your wish to become emancipated, 99% of the time the court will deny your request. If you want to pursue this, you'll want the services of an attorney, and need to be able to pay the attorney as well as all court costs and legal fees.