Legal Question in Family Law in California
Can I legally emancipate my 16 year old son? He is not living at home.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Information about the emancipation of a minor child over the age of 14 in California can be found at this link to the California Courts website,http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-emancipation.htm. The standards for emancipation require that the youth continue to attend school and be self-supporting through legal sources and be able to handle his or her own finances (i.e., be able to pay for housing, food and other necessities of life). Parental consent is also required, This being said, courts are also concerned that parents not consent to emancipation as a way of avoiding responsibilities for child support or other issues. You should consult with a family law attorney and a counselor to make certain that the emancipation process is really appropriate given your circumstances.