17-Year-Old Wants To Go To Canada

[Jacki]

Ok, this is kind of confusing, so just bear with me. I'm 17 years old and will be 18 in april. I have decided that it is time for me to move out of my house and start over somewhere else. It just so happens that there is a free place for me to stay, with a person that I care abou greatly...In Canada. My dad and i don't have the greatest relationship, and my house is tiny. I have everythingplanned out but the legal part, and I need advice. Do you think that this is possible. I'm desperate, and I don't know about the emancipation laws in massachusetts.

[aaron]

The Massachusetts statute which governs emancipation provides:

Section 5. The guardian of a minor shall have the custody of his person and the care of his education, except that the parents of the minor, jointly, or the surviving parent shall have such custody and said care unless the court otherwise orders. The probate court may, upon the written consent of the parents or surviving parent, order that the guardian shall have such custody; and may so order if, upon a hearing and after such notice to the parents or surviving parent as it may order, it finds such parents, jointly, or the surviving parent, unfit to have such custody; or if it finds one of them unfit therefor and the other files in court his or her written consent to such order. The marriage of a person under guardianship as a minor shall deprive his guardian of all right to the custody and education of such person but not of the care and possession of such person's property. If a corporation is appointed guardian of a minor, the court may, subject to the right of his parents, or of the spouse of a minor, as provided in this section, award the custody to some suitable person. The court may revoke the appointment of a guardian if the party petitioning for revocation proves a substantial and material change of circumstances and if the revocation is in the child's best interest.