Getting an Emancipation

[echelon007]

My question involves emancipation laws for the State of: Washington.

I am 16 years old and I would like to get emancipated. I have a job, and make an income that could support me. I pay for my cell phone bill, I have a bank account that I keep in check, and I get good grades in school. I've looked over all the requirements and I'm pretty sure the Judge would grant me emancipation. I'm just concerned about my mother. She will definately fight this, and I'm scared that I'll go through everything just to be denied because my mom can't handle that I've grown up. What are my chances of getting emancipated if my mom tries to fight it?

Also, the law also states that I must prove I can manage my own personal, educational, and nonfinancial agenda's. I'm not sure how to prove this...advice please?

[FlyinHawk®]

Your chances of getting emancipated are slim to start with if your Mom fights it there is no saying what way it will go.

To prove you can manage your personal and educational affairs you need to show the Judge that you obtain and maintain good grades, don't have any problems and don't get into any trouble.

You will also have to prove to the Judge that you can financially support yourself without the help of others.

[echelon007]

Well I won't lie and say that I pay rent or anything, but my mom makes me pay for food, gas for HER car, buys things "for me" and then makes me pay for it because "I needed it".

It seems almost impossible to get emancipated, but I don't want to do anything foolish like run away, because that would be stupid and just make everything so much worse. I want to do this the right way, but I know it's going to be really hard. I'm a good kid, never had any trouble with the law or school, and I'm not trying to run away to never never land with some boy.

If somehow my mom didn't fight it (extremely slim), would my chances be a tad better?

[cbg]

Not until you can show that you are capable of paying rent, food, clothes, transportation, medical care, school fees and supplies, utilities, etc. as well as incidentals such as your cell phone bill. Even if she doesn't fight it, you still have to prove to a judge that emancipation would be in your best interest.

Essentially, you need to be able to prove to a judge that you can do a better job of bringing yourself up than she can, and that failure to emancipate you would cause you harm.

[cyjeff]

Judges are extremely reluctant to emancipate children.

They only do it when there is a distinct and justifiable NEED for you to be emancipated.

I know you want to be emancipated... can you honestly tell a court that you NEED to be emancipated to survive?

And I am not talking about "I need to be free" teenager survival. I am saying can you convince a court that unless you are granted the rights of an adult you will die? Literally?

You have a roof over your head. Food in your belly. Clothes on your back. You will have an uphill battle.

[echelon007]

You're right, I'm not going to die. I guess it's just impossible; unless I join the army or get married and neither sound too good to me. Why do they even have this law if theres no way to acheive it?

Also, I have a roof over my head, but we get eviction notices all the time, and my mom has to ask relatives for money which is ridiculous, and I barely eat because theres never anything to eat in my house. Whenever I ask my mom about food, she goes off about how she has so many bills to pay, whic I understand but food is a necessity especially if you have children to provide for. Then she'll tell me to get food myself since I have a job, but I'm 16 so i barely get any money anyways and all of it goes to her.

Which brings another issue of I wouldn't be able to pay for everything myself because my wages aren't high enough. But I'm 16 so what am I supposed to do? I'm still in school, so I can't work enough hours to get the money I need. I guess a whole attempt at emancipation would rather futile and a waste of $50...

[cyjeff]

If you are saying it is almost impossible to be emancipated, you are correct.

It is usually only the very rich or the very poor that qualify.

[cbg]

It's SUPPOSED to be hard to get emancipated. It's not something to be entered into lightly. It is by no means as easy as you think to manage on your own. Emancipation is granted only in cases of NEED, not want. About 1 teen in 10,000 (and I am not exaggerating even slightly) succeeds in becoming emancipated.