I am depressed in my home and I want to get out
Ok, this is a really long story.. I had been living with my mom my whole life after my dad and her got a divorce.. but I had been wanting to live with my dad when I was around 14.. and then bad things happened. My mom had always yelled at us a lot.. and she never had a real job (she bred dogs and sold junk on ebay) She started to get a little physicaly.. never hitting us to leave bruises, but she threw a lot of stuff at us and was constantly screaming.. After her husband and my step dad left, she lost all control. It got really bad when I was 15 years old and i smacked my brother on the arm (not hard... he was seven) because he wouldn't go get ready for school and he told me he hated me (he doesn't at all.. he just has a temper) but my mom freaked out.. and got a gun and screamed at me to take it and kill her (she said that me hitting my brother made her feel like dieing or some other crap like that) but I freaked out when she hit me, not like bad hit.. just hit.. and I went to school and called my dad and told him I wanted him to pick me up because I was scared to go home.. he did and we filed a police report with against my mom.. Well.. eventually things worked out and a couple of months later, when school ended I moved with my dad to Illinois..
Then things got even worse.. my mom was busted for selling meth and her boyfriend that was living with her was caught trying to get rid of parafanilia.. So she went to jail for a couple of days and got bailed out by my grandparents.. It upset me because my mom was also failing drug tests.. she denied everything at the time.. but she admits to it now. The court dates for her to see if she goes to prison/jail/whatever her punishment will be, keeps getting post poned and moved to a later date.. I think it got moved to be in July.. but it will probably get moved again.. But.. after living here at my dad's house for almost a year.. I hate it.. My dad became a Jehovah's Witness.. and I am forced to go and "obey" all their rules.. despite my telling him that it's not what I want.. or want to be.. I am not allowed to hang out with other kids from school.. only certain jehovah's witness kids.. I am 16, have a license.. but I don't drive anywhere by myself unless I am driving to the Wal Mart a few blocks away, or to go tanning.. I can't go to the movies or go bowling because he suspects me to try to hang out with boys there.. my 14 year old sister and I aren't allowed to do anything unless he is there with us.. We both hate it.. I got in trouble for talking to a boy on the phone.. but I did lie about who it was and said it was a friend (that is a boy) from my old town of Brazil.. because I was scared to get in trouble.. he does know now who it was though.. He also read my diary about a time when I was staying with my friend in Indiana, and we snuck out and I made out with a boy.. he finds that completely wrong.. but he found out by invading my privacy.. which I think is wrong.
Anyways, after my mom got the drug charges, my dad got a restraining order on her, and my sister and I weren't allowed to see her.. until she could pass three consecutive drug tests.. She has completly turned her life around.. she moved to a new home, got a new job, and is off drugs.. she had been waiting for the courts to contact her and give her the drug tests, but they screwed up and never sent in the papers.. So because of them, I still couldn't see her.. She passed three drug tests, and I went and saw her for a weekend (but we could only see her if my grandma was their to supervise) but I wanted to go again and my dad says he called the courts and they said we shouldn't see him.. I think my dad hates my mom and will do anything to keep us from her. So because the courts haven't gotten the two other tests she took in the mail yet, (which she did take) I don't get to see my mom.. so again, their fault.. but I'm the one who has to pay for it.. I told my dad that I want to move back to my moms and how I hate it here.. I am depressed and I miss my old friend's and family... like 5 months ago, I was "cutting" myself (not on the wrists, I WAS NOT trying to kill myself.. only alleviate the emotional pain by having physical pain) But I will never do that again.. But my mom wants to try to go back to court to get custody of my sister and I again, but I am scared they won't do that until the drug charges are over.. and the way that is looking, it could take years for them to sort it all out.. and I don't want to wait that long.. and I am scared they will make me stay here..( Oh and I forgot to say that I had found out my dad watches porn and I found some on the computer that was labeled "teen porn" and I told my mom.. it freaked me out, because it is supposed to be strictly against his religion to do that.. I don't think my dad would rape or molest me.. it just makes me feel kinda uncomfortable.. and my mom wants to use that in court to get us back) But if I can't move back, I want to be legally emancipated.. do you think that is in anyway possible? What are the rules? I know my dad would never just allow me to go.. he would fight it..but does that matter? I am really depressed and I want to leave here really bad.. and if I can't live with my mom, I have very close friends, whose parents would take me in.. Can I get legally emancipated without my dad's consent? I want to.. please help me.. soon!
-Laurren-
Illinois Emancipation Law
Under Illinois law,
Quote:
Quoting 750 ILCS 30/7 - Emancipation Petition
The petition for emancipation shall be verified and shall set forth:
- (1) the age of the minor;
(2) that the minor is a resident of Illinois at the time of the filing of the petition, or owns real estate in Illinois, or has an interest or is a party in any case pending in Illinois;
(3) the cause for which the minor seeks to obtain partial or complete emancipation;
(4) the names of the minor's parents, and the address, if living;
(5) the names and addresses of any guardians or custodians appointed for the minor;
(6) that the minor is (i) a mature minor who has demonstrated the ability and capacity to manage his own affairs or (ii) a homeless minor who is located in this State; and
(7) that the minor has lived wholly or partially independent of his parents or guardian.
If the minor seeks emancipation as a homeless minor, the petition shall also set forth the name of the youth transitional housing program that is willing and able to provide services and shelter or housing to the minor, the address of the program, and the name and phone number of the contact person at the program. The petition shall also briefly assert the reason that the services and shelter or housing to be offered are appropriate and necessary for the well‑being of the homeless minor.
"Mature minor" means a person 16 years of age or over and under the age of 18 years who has demonstrated the ability and capacity to manage his own affairs and to live wholly or partially independent of his parents or guardian.