Emancipation Law

[your_wasted_sacrifice]

I am a 16 year old female in Texas, and I will be an early high school graduate. I will have my diploma before I turn 17, which is in May of this coming year. I want to move out when I am 17 and go live close to my oldest sister who lives out of state. As soon as I do this, I have a job ready for me there that will make me more than able to rent my own apartment and pay for the things I need there. My point is, do I have to be emancipated to leave when I turn 17 in order to move out? And if so, I would be more than able to take care of myself, so do I have a good chance in becoming emancipated? Or by law can I move out when I am 17? The only reason I ask is that my parents are afraid to lose me, not that they don't think I can take care of myself, just that they will miss me. So they might go to any extreme to keep me here. Even though I am more than capable to tend to my own needs.
Thank you.

[aaron]

In Texas, a minor can petition for emancipation if she meets the statutory requirements:

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 are in a better position than we are to try to figure out if you can satisfy those requirements.