Texas Emancipation Law

[csmith93]

My daughter is 16 and turns 17 in March and plans to leave even though she is hiding that fact from us. If she does leave without our consent can we file with the court to have her emanicipated? She would be living with her boyfriend and his parents.
In Texas, from my understanding, you can leave home without parental consent at 17 but your parents are still responsible for you.
His parents are encouraging her to leave at 17 and want to take care of her. They are less than savory parents in my eyes and she will probably get in to trouble there.

[aaron]

Texas emancipation law provides for the petition to be filed by the child:

Sec. 31.001. REQUIREMENTS.
(a) A minor may petition to have the disabilities of minority removed for limited or general purposes if the minor is:

• (1) a resident of this state;
  
  (2) 17 years of age, or at least 16 years of age and living separate and apart from the minor's parents, managing conservator, or guardian; and
  
  (3) self-supporting and managing the minor's own financial affairs.

(b) A minor may file suit under this chapter in the minor's own name. The minor need not be represented by next friend.


Sec. 31.002. REQUISITES OF PETITION; VERIFICATION.
(a) The petition for removal of disabilities of minority must state:

• (1) the name, age, and place of residence of the petitioner;
  
  (2) the name and place of residence of each living parent;
  
  (3) the name and place of residence of the guardian of the person and the guardian of the estate, if any;
  
  (4) the name and place of residence of the managing conservator, if any;
  
  (5) the reasons why removal would be in the best interest of the minor; and
  
  (6) the purposes for which removal is requested.

(b) A parent of the petitioner must verify the petition, except that if a managing conservator or guardian of the person has been appointed, the petition must be verified by that person. If the person who is to verify the petition is unavailable or that person's whereabouts are unknown, the guardian ad litem shall verify the petition.


Sec. 31.003. VENUE.
The petitioner shall file the petition in the county in which the petitioner resides.


Sec. 31.004. GUARDIAN AD LITEM.
The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the interest of the petitioner at the hearing.


Sec. 31.005. ORDER.
The court by order, or the Texas Supreme Court by rule or order, may remove the disabilities of minority of a minor, including any restriction imposed by Chapter 32, if the court or the Texas Supreme Court finds the removal to be in the best interest of the petitioner. The order or rule must state the limited or general purposes for which disabilities are removed.


Sec. 31.006. EFFECT OF GENERAL REMOVAL.
Except for specific constitutional and statutory age requirements, a minor whose disabilities are removed for general purposes has the capacity of an adult, including the capacity to contract. Except as provided by federal law, all educational rights accorded to the parent of a student, including the right to make education decisions under Section 151.003(a)(10), transfer to the minor whose disabilities are removed for general purposes.


Sec. 31.007. REGISTRATION OF ORDER OF ANOTHER STATE OR NATION.
(a) A nonresident minor who has had the disabilities of minority removed in the state of the minor's residence may file a certified copy of the order removing disabilities in the deed records of any county in this state.

(b) When a certified copy of the order of a court of another state or nation is filed, the minor has the capacity of an adult, except as provided by Section 31.006 and by the terms of the order.

You should consult a local family lawyer to see if the parent can also file to emancipate a minor, or if other remedies are available.