My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Florida
I'm 16 and will be graduating in December 2014 per my completion of Florida public high school, from there, the schools I wish to attend do not have spring enrollment and I'll be taking the Spring and Summer semesters off to save money for my upcoming expenses, going to college in the Fall of 2015, I will be 17 a few days before the Fall semester begins. Anyways, I graduated a year ahead of my class with a 3.8 GPA, and a 5.2 HPA (honors/AP point avg) as well as an 1798 SAT score, I have yet to take ACT. Through my educational accomplishments, I was granted early graduation status, however, this means that I'll be going to college long before I turn 18, which presents some unique problems most students don't have. Yes, I understand that many students do go to college at 17, but most turn 18 at least before the end of the first semester of freshman year, with me, though, this is not the case.
As this school year and my graduation will inevitably come quicker than I'll ever imagine, my mother has agreed to let me move out to pursue my college years even though I'm not 18, which is definitely a good thing. Although this was a breakthrough in our family, I also see that the top college of my choice does not let people under 18 sign for a dorm (my dorm was prepaid through FL Pre-Paid per my father's will when he died) because people under 18 are not considered "legally allowed to sign a binding contract until the age of majority (18 in FL). Meaning I would have to get an apartment near the college, which, of course, I also cannot sign for because I'm not 18. Pretty much, I can't even buy my own bottle of Mucinex without my parents approval because it's extremely regulated by FL law. Along with these challenges, if I were to go to college 6 hours away from my hometown, my mom can't drive up to buy me some flu medication or have me pick up my own prescriptions for my blood issues, even though they were prescribed to me by the GP. Even though this seems minor, if I were to get hurt on accident or get into a situation in which, because I was not 18, I couldn't consent to medical treatment or services, if I get sick, hurt, have trouble with financial aid or other college costs, etc. I can't do anything about it because I'm not 18, and with my mother 6 hours away, she can't do much either, making me SOL.
If it's any help, I'll be going to state college, at FSU or UCF, so off-campus housing is cheap and student oriented.
Because of these conditions, I'm begining to look into emancipation. I understand all the special conditions that come with this, like paying for my own everything, providing for myself independent from my parents, and all the rest. I have a good job tutoring young children that brings be $3,600 a month, and I'm saving most of it for college expenses. Once I move away, I can easily get a job working in an area school, as my high school certification program was in Early Childhood Education, which will earn me my ECPC (the FL DCF certificate to teach children 8 and under) by November, so I would have a source of income to support myself. Would it be possible for someone with my significant problems to petition, with my mother's help, for emancipation and have it be granted? I'm trying to make moving out as seamless for both my mother and myself, but I'm worried that if something happens to me while I'm away, I won't be able to make sure I'm healthy, as I have hematological issues as well as other medical problems that usually need to be signed off by my mom because I'm not 18 yet.
So a summary of my questions:
1. Is emancipation possible under the circumstances and both the cooperation of my mother and myself, as I can financially support myself while in college?
2. If so, does my FL Pre-Paid stand in the way of that because I'm not "technically" paying for college myself even though it was in my deceased fathers' will?
3. Do you have any suggestions as to what to do if emancipation is not possible and if something comes up while in 6 hours away from my parent and she cannot consent for me?
P.S. Community College is not an option for me, as the schools even 1 hour away from me are not adequate to my scholastic necessity (they're terrible schools).
Thank you!![]()

