Legal Question in Family Law in Alabama

My friend is 17 years old and lives in alabama. He wishes to get emancipated. He does not live with mother of father. His step grandmother has custody right now. She is unable to take care of him. She has a sick husband. She uses him as a babysitter for his two younger half brothers or a servant. He is unhappy. He wishes to get a job and a car before he is 18 but cannot do that if he is living where he is living. He is in school. A preacher he knows very well has agreed to take him in. His grandmother will not allow it. Both his biological parents are not able to take care of him either. What should he do about getting emancipated? Could the preacher who aggred to take him in to anything?The grandmother will not sign a petiton. What should he do? Please help. Im concerned for him


Asked on 3/21/10, 4:35 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
James Coleman Murchison & Howard, LLC

Your friend cannot be emancipated by petition until he is 18-years old. THe age of majority is 19, but a person can petition the court to allow him to be emancipated at 18. If he is not being mistreated, it will not be easy for him to convince a court to change his situation. If he is being mistreated the preacher could Petition the court for a change of custody, but that is wildly unlikely. Unless he is being mistreated he is probably stuck where he is until he is 19.

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Answered on 3/27/10, 7:51 am


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