The Emancipation Hearing

At the hearing, a judge may grant full emancipation or limited emancipation. For example, one form of limited emancipation may give the minor the right to make her own decisions about housing, education, and personal finances. In this case, the minor's parents would still be responsible for her health care, insurance, and other financial assistance. Or the judge may grant a full emancipation, meaning that the teenager is responsible for all issues with money, medical care, and enrolling herself in school until she graduates or turns 18.

It is also important to know that it is not always necessary for a teenager to file for an emancipation action to live safely on her own. Some teenagers can escape parental abuse or homelessness by living with friends or relatives with the agreement that their parents will still enroll them in school and take care of health care needs without a court order. Teenagers who feel that they will not be able to sign a contract such as a lease to rent an apartment or apply for certain social services are more likely interested in emancipation actions.

A pregnant teenager may also become a legal adult by getting married. Anyone under 18 years old must have at least one parent or legal guardian's consent to marry. A consent form is signed at the county clerk's office in the county in which the minor wishes to marry. If at least one parent or legal guardian will not consent, the teenager has a right to ask for a hearing to get a judge's permission to marry. This legal action is similar to filing for emancipation.

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