How I Can Get Emancipated

[krystyn]

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Washington
I am 16 years old, I have a job, and I have a place to stay.
I live with my mom and step dad. They have made me move around the Country my whole life, I have never lived in one state for more then 5 years. And it is very hard to move around and have to leave everyone you know and start over. I am always depressed when I am at home, I am never happy..my step dad is not very nice..he calls me fat and selfish and a bitch and there is more. Don't get me wrong he has done some good things to..but because of him we always have to move. And my mom just sits back and lets him call me these things..and lets him make us move. He's not even in the Military. Even time I get close to someone they make me move. Everything I have is here in Washington. My school, the collage I want to go to, my friends, my job, my boyfriend, everything. I only have a year and a half until I'm 18..but I can't deal with being this depressed anymore..I need suggestions on how to get emancipated as soon as possible, He is wanting to move to Montana in a few months..

[Dogmatique]

You are not currently living outside of the home nor are you fully supporting yourself; the state of WA will not emancipate you.

If you were both of these things and living in King Co for example, you might stand something of a 3% chance.

If you're in virtually any other county, the chance drops to virtually zero.

So how much do you earn, and where are you intending to live?

[krystyn]

Dogmatique, I make $10 a hour, and at my friends house, they have an extra room and her mom told me I am welcome to live there if I can do this. I would also not have to pay rent there, I would just have to help but my food and extra stuff I want/need.

[Dogmatique]

That pretty much guarantees you have no chance of being emancipated.

I'm sorry, but that's not what emancipation is for. It is not and never was intended to be a means for unhappy teens to leave home.

In order for the court to even consider it, you would have to be able to show you have a NEED to be emancipated, and that you can pay full market rent, utilities, food, clothing, health insurance, transportation, incidentals - AND maintain better-than-average grades at school. The court will also, as a rule, look for reasons to deny a petition.

Please read other threads about emancipation.

[krystyn]

well I am a straight A student. And I do have money in my savings account, and I bought my own car and pay for that insurance and the gas..

[Dogmatique]

None of this changes the previous response.

[aardvarc]

Doesn't matter. You need to show the court that you are currently earning enough to pay the FULL MARKET RATE for rent, utilities, health insurance (which you'll be required to have), and ALL expenses of life. If you are at the mercy of other people to cover any of those necessities, you don't qualify. And, you'd need to ALREADY be living in your own place and paying that rent, so that you can show the court your HISTORY of doing so, before the court will consider your petition.

[Dogmatique]

Heck, depending on where OP lives, that $10/hour isn't even going to cover rent and utilities in some areas here....

[LawResearcherMissy]

Heck, depending on where OP lives, that $10/hour isn't even going to cover rent and utilities in some areas here....

Wouldn't cover it here in a pretty low-rent area of Ohio, either. My 20 year-old son makes that as a line cook, works 35-40 hours a week...and is pretty annoyed that he can't afford to move out on that wage.