Can My Mom Allow Me to Be Emancipated

[madzter69]

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Iowa
I am 16 years old and am about 4 months pregnant. I moved out of my moms house with my fiancé and I find it hard to do simple things like fill prescriptions, go to the doctors office, sign up for a library card, etc. without my mom present with me. We live about an hour and a half away from each other so it's hard to do those things because of the distance. Anyway, I've talked it over with my mom and she said she would allow me to get emancipated if the decision were up to her. But neither of us know if it is or not. So could she allow me to? Or would I be better off marrying him before the baby comes so then I'm automatically emancipated?

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I also have a good paying job that I've had for over a year. I make about $600 every two weeks.

[Lehk]

are you in school and working?

https://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Cool-...=83&input=232C

[madzter69]

Also, what about a minor getting married in the state of Iowa with parental consent? Would that automatically make me emancipated?

[Dogmatique]

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Iowa
I am 16 years old and am about 4 months pregnant. I moved out of my moms house with my fiancé and I find it hard to do simple things like fill prescriptions, go to the doctors office, sign up for a library card, etc. without my mom present with me. We live about an hour and a half away from each other so it's hard to do those things because of the distance. Anyway, I've talked it over with my mom and she said she would allow me to get emancipated if the decision were up to her. But neither of us know if it is or not. So could she allow me to? Or would I be better off marrying him before the baby comes so then I'm automatically emancipated?

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I also have a good paying job that I've had for over a year. I make about $600 every two weeks.

I'm appalled that your Mother has allowed this. That is, to be blunt, lousy parenting. But enough about that.

There is a reason I'm asking this question, okay? Where is your other parent? Where else are you getting funds?

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Also, what about a minor getting married in the state of Iowa with parental consent? Would that automatically make me emancipated?

Unfortunately, yes.

[madzter69]

My dad left when I was a baby, and my older sister helps out my mom. I buy everything for myself, my sister just helps out my mom. My mom gets food stamps for me and her and occasionally watches kids. That's her sole source of income. And no, I am not in school. Going to school gave me extremely bad anxiety to the point where I would just constantly throw up for hours. Since I cannot afford online schooling, I've decided to get my GED and have been studying since I turned 16.

[Dogmatique]

For some reason I really feel for you. You're 16, and you're in a very vulnerable position. May I offer some non-legal advice? Slow down. Talk to your boyfriend about the possibility of adoption. If you're dead set against that, then you need to focus on you and the baby - you have to make sure you're both healthy.

You're not in school, and you're working how many hours? Because even if you're emancipated, child labor laws still apply. (It seems that there are changes being made or discussed ... next week! http://www.iowaworkforce.org/labor/childlabor.htm ).

What are you going to do when you've given birth? You're prone to anxiety, which I understand (I'm officially agoraphobic), so what's going to happen when you're juggling a baby and money?

I really don't want to come down hard on you, but I can't help but worry that emancipation may make your situation worse.

[cbg]

I'd also like to ask - $600 every two weeks may sound like good money when you're 16, but when you get out in the real world you're going to find that's peanuts. How do you plan to pay a hospital bill that is going to run into thousands of dollars? Does this good job have health insurance? If you're emancipated, your mom does not have any legal obligation to pay anything towards your support, or your medical care. And believe me, $300 a week isn't even going to scratch the surface. ONLY your income will be considered in an emancipation petition - not your boyfriend's. Yours alone. The judge will want to be sure that you won't become a burden on the taxpayers if the two of you break up, and while I know you don't believe me, all you have to do is read a few of these forums to learn that the odds of you remaining together aren't very good.

[madzter69]

We really don't want to give the baby up. I'm not necessarily a big fan of kids, but I know I'll love them if they're my own. I work about 8 hours a day 6 days a week and have a few thousand in savings. Once I have the baby, I was planning on taking time off, for the baby, and myself, give time to adjust. And my savings will make up for those lost wages. His mom will take 2 weeks off when it's born to help me out since he most likely won't be able to. I understand that with emancipation, you have to go in front of a judge and he has to approve it. If he and I were to get married we could skip that part. I'm pretty confident he's the one I want to be with forever, but no I don't know for sure. But I don't think anyone really does. It would just be easier to be able to do things on my own. I couldn't even get a stupid library card until I talked to the manager and explained my situation. Yes, he and I could go a few more years just as boyfriend/girlfriend but it's not really practical when you have a baby, live a ways away from your mom, and need to get things done. Things a minor can't do by themselves.

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No, $600 isn't very much, but truth be told, my mom couldn't even help me pay bills if she wanted to. Her income is basically zero. I pay her bills, not the other way around, I pay her phone and internet bill. I have insurance through the state that will remain because of my income, age, and pregnant/have a child under 18. But $1200 a month is plenty enough around here to pay rent, phone bill, necessities, and stuff for baby without even his help.

[cbg]

And a hospital bill?

[Dogmatique]

Though I do feel for the OP, truth be told this is very simple. The court isn't going to emancipate her. Put her in foster care? Perhaps. Leave her where she is? Perhaps. But emancipation? Nope.