California Emancipation For A 16 Year Old

[hxartcore]

hi. i'm brittany, i'm 16 [17 in july 2008], a junior in high school [c/o 2009], and i live in california. my mother and father are separated, since i was around 6, and i don't see my father often. i currently reside with my mother [&2 sisters (14 and 22) and my nephew(1)].
things at my house are very stressful and i find it hard living here. my mother is a single mother, and it's hard for her to get by with just one ull time job [my older sister does absolutely nothing]. i'm taking an independent studies course [instead of regular classes at the highschool], where i go 50 minutes a day 5 days a week, which i find so much better for me because i can work at my own pace[school was too easy for me, i wanted to move faster] and get my work done much quicker&more efficient. i do not currently have a job but am working on getting one. i realize that living on my own without the financial help of anyone but myself is a great responsibility but i feel i'm ready to handle it, and it would be better for me.
my mother? she did something similar to emancipation when she was 16 although it wasn't legally filed or anything. she had a job, went to school, and took care of herself while her parents were states away. this isn't my case, i'll still be living near, and, she's been pretty understanding of the whole thing for once and would give me any help needed with this process of getting emancipated.
i don't even know where to begin with this. i've looked at websites and things, but, they all have the same very vague and un-detailed descriptions.
any stories, advice, help, anything i should know, steps to follow, websites, etc,. are so greatly appreciated. thank you.

[cbg]

Until you actually have that job, there's no point to even thinking about it. You will not be emancipated on the basis of, I'm going to get a job; only on, I have a job that pays xxx.xx per week, of which x goes to rent, y to utiliites, z to transportation, etc.

[hxartcore]

Until you actually have that job, there's no point to even thinking about it. You will not be emancipated on the basis of, I'm going to get a job; only on, I have a job that pays xxx.xx per week, of which x goes to rent, y to utiliites, z to transportation, etc.

how long do i need to have had a job for?

[panther10758]

Theres no set time frame but I would say 6 mos

[cbg]

Long enough to show a judge that you are capable of self-support.

[panther10758]

Long enough to show a judge that you are capable of self-support.

I concur which is why I felt 6 mos would suffice

[cbg]

I think it would depend on the job. If she's only making minimum wage, 6 months might not be long enough.