Legal Question in Family Law in Virginia

Re: emancipation laws.

The following is general legal information on the emancipation of a minor in Virginia from various sections of the Code of Virginia.

� 16.1-331. Petition for emancipation. � Any minor who has reached his sixteenth birthday and is residing in this Commonwealth, or any parent or guardian of such minor, may petition the juvenile and domestic relations district court for the county or city in which either the minor or his parents or guardian resides for a determination that the minor named in the petition be emancipated. The petition shall contain, in addition to the information required by � 16.1-262, the gender of the minor and, if the petitioner is not the minor, the name of the petitioner and the relationship of the petitioner to the minor.

� 16.1-332. Orders of court; investigation, report and appointment of counsel. � If deemed appropriate the court may (i) require the local department of social services or any other agency or person to investigate the allegations in the petition and file a report of that investigation with the court, (ii) appoint counsel for the minor's parents or guardian, or (iii) make any other orders regarding the matter which the court deems appropriate. In any case pursuant to this article the court shall appoint counsel for the minor to serve as guardian ad litem.

� 16.1-333. Findings necessary to order that minor is emancipated. � The court may enter an order declaring the minor emancipated if, after a hearing, it is found that: (i) the minor has entered into a valid marriage, whether or not that marriage has been terminated by dissolution; or (ii) the minor is on active duty with any of the armed forces of the United States of America; or (iii) the minor willingly lives separate and apart from his parents or guardian, with the consent or acquiescence of the parents or guardian, and that the minor is or is capable of supporting himself and competently managing his own financial affairs.

Re: emancipation laws.

Emancipation for a minor is rarely a good idea.

Your case, based upon the few facts which you've offered, gives no suggestion as to why your situation should be an exception to this general rule.