Emancipation in Kansas; a Possibility

[tophermcnally]

I am a young male, seventeen years of age, living in Overland Park, KS.

Legally, I am under joint-custody of my Mother and my Father.

In reality, I am currently living with my aunt, the larger part of my family (aunts and my grandmother) decided it would be a much healthier situation for me to live at my Aunt's than my Mother's. My father hasn't bothered much interjecting on the situation, for fear of uprooting my life again (which I'll get to shortly).

My freshman year of high school was a horrible time for all involved, because living with my mother was a horrible set up. Her behaviour was completely unhealthy and I didn't feel I had a calm and suitable place for me to live, so like any other boy in the most emotional year or two of his life would, (thanks puberty) I failed miserably. My sophomore year I was sent to boarding school, away from my mother, and my grades skyrocketed to A's and B's, and I really got my things together. When summer came, and I moved back in, life was horrible once more. I was taking the couch tour, never staying in my own house because of the fear of my Mother having some emotional breakdown and threatening to send me to my Father's and uproot my life. (who would call her out on her nonsense regardless.)

Junior year came and passed, still fantastic grades, considered a very important part of the small student body, involved heavily extra curricular and social activities, etc.

When summer came around again, Mother troubles arose (she got another new boyfriend with the maturity level of a toddler), and my family had had enough. My aunt came and retrieved me and I now live at her house (still in overland park).

In my current situation, I am working a steady job, I have a stable life here in overland park, and I really don't want to return to boarding school. My entire family is saying I don't have an option, when I could go to the public school I belong at just down the street for free and save my grandmother 6,000 dollars worth of my college money (the price of my senior year, with a half scholarship!)

As I mentioned before, I do have a steady job working at Jimmy John's (which i would most likely have to quit if I returned to boarding school), and I could easily pick up more hours to support myself. I also make shows playing in my band. I have a car, but it is in the name of my Mom, and I wouldn't be surprised if she would take it from me if I ever emancipated myself. I feel I am mature enough to finally lead my own life. Is emancipation a possibility?

[PattyPA]

I don't know what Jimmy John's is, but it sounds like a fast food place. You think you can support yourself, including rent (on your own, not living with a relative or a roommate), food, clothing, utilities, transportation, insurance, phone, etc. even on 40 hours per week at not much more than minimum wage? And go to school? Wrong.