Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

Re: Emancipation

The quick answer to your question is that emancipation normally occurs at age 18. There are, however, some exceptions. (1) You can have a court determine it under chapter 13.64 RCW, which can be found at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=13.64. I perceive those requirements as being generally difficult to prove. (2) Marriage emancipates a minor.

Re: Emancipation

I'd need to know a lot more information. A minor child who is a parent is in a distinct legal status, because they are still a child themselves but are also a parent for the purposes of making decisions regarding their child.

It is a unique problem. But to answer your question, no, the sixteen year old is not automatically emancipated; that's a court process, not something that happens by operation of law automatically.

Hope this helps. Elizabeth Powell