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Question: I am 16 years old. I own a successful company and could make it on my own if I were to be emancipated. However, I have read that in Arizona there is no emancipation law (you can't do it). There is NO possible way for me to become an adult, and take care of myself?

Answer:

Arizona now has a legal method of emanicaption for minors. See question 18496

 

Original answer to question before the law was enacted:

Arizona has no legal method for having a court declare you emancipated.  Few people have been found by a court to be emancipated based on circumstances like you have described.  However, emancipation is often done as a result of a creditor trying to force a Minor to pay a debt created by a contract signed by the Minor before they were eighteen.  Contracts by Minors are usually unenforceable.

 

One option for you is to ask your parent or guardian to allow you to live on your own.  However, that parent or guardian would remain liable for your support, any needed medical care, and would need to sign authorization for medical treatment.  In other words, your parents would retain all their legal obligations to you.  A landlord would likely want your parents to co-sign on any lease, so the landlord could continue to receive rent from your parents in the event you can't make the payment.  

 

To be  cautious about such an agreement, all parties should speak with an attorney to be sure tax and other legal consequences are understood.  (Generally, a Minor's income counts for parents.  Your income could affect the taxes your parents pay to the IRS. )   


Comments
1 thru 5 of 6 comments
On 07/20/06
Angel from CA said:
I am 14 yrs and will turn 15 in October. I want to emancipate my self. because i want to be with and marry my boyfriend. Is that possible? If it is... what is the process?
On 01/08/05
Dyana from PA said:
im 17 yrs. old and my b/f is locked up and wants to emancipate his parents and i have looked into it and i want to talk to people have been granted emancipation and hear what they told the judge!!
On 01/04/05
Nicole from AZ said:
I am 17 and i figure there's no way for me to get emancipated in this state unless i get married. Is that true?
On 12/27/04
Jipwidap from PA said:
If I may ask, why do you want away from you parents? You think you will have a better life if you support yourself 3 extra years? I cannot seem to grasp this concept. Please explain.
On 12/14/04
monica from AZ said:
i am a fifteen year old trying to get emancipated from my parents. if they don't agree to the emancipation, then what? because i have many reasons that could help me get closer to emancipation, but i still just need a little advice.
1 thru 5 of 6 comments



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