Emancipation in Colorado

[slim]

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

I'm sixteen this December. My mom died two years ago and she was disabled and left us basically nothing to live off of, so my sister, my dad and I were forced to move in with a family friend. A month after my mother died, my dad quit his job and he hardly even supports his children and to this day, still isn't working. The person we moved in with is the one who supports my sister, my dad and I -- my dad is hardly self-sufficient. We're currently living off of TANF, Food Stamps, and the family friend's income which is hardly enough to keep a roof over our heads.
My dad sits at his computer all day, or watches TV, and does nothing useful for anyone. He claims he's "depressed" over my mom's death and that's his excuse for sitting around and doing virtually nothing and not taking care of his own children. The person we are living with has threatened to call Social Services more than once because of my dad's lazy tendencies. He never really does anything unless it benefits himself and he constantly emits a negative attitude and both of those things get in the way of him getting a job and standing on his own two feet. My dad constantly stresses me out because he's unhappy with himself and has, on occasion, told me how much he just wants to kill himself because he has has a bad childhood and he just can't let go of the past and move on. He has, in the past, abused my sister and I, and the only thing that's stopping him from abusing us at the moment is the other person we're living with.
Our roommate is teaching my sister and I to be self-sufficient, never depend on anyone else, and just basically not end up like my dad. This situation has gotten to the point where both our roommate and my aunt are telling me to consider emancipation when I turn 16. I have every intention of getting a job and generating some sort of income for myself as soon as I turn 16. I know my dad like the back of my hand and if I were to get emancipated, he would want nothing to do with me but considering that his name isn't even on the lease for our townhome, he has no power whatsoever to throw me out on the streets and our roommate's already promised me that if I were to get emancipated, he would ensure that I had a place to call home.

So my question is, would I be able to get emancipated?

[cyjeff]

You didn't mention your job.

[slim]

You didn't mention your job.

Because I don't have one yet. I'm planning on getting one as soon as I turn 16.

[Dogmatique]

Because I don't have one yet. I'm planning on getting one as soon as I turn 16.

In order to become emancipated you must be fully self-supporting and have a history of same.

(In other words - room-mates aren't going to cut it)

So, you can afford your own apartment, utilities etc., without any help?

[cbg]

Colorado does not have a statute by which you can go to court and become emancipated.

In certain circumstances, IF you are living on your own and paying 100% of your own expenses (that means you are paying all of your own rent, food, clothing, utilities, transportation, medical care, insurance, school fees and supplies, and all the other incidentals of life) while simultaneously going to school and getting better than average grades, the state of Colorado will recognize you as emancipated.

Living with your friend will not cut it.