subject: Questions About Legal Emancipation Laws [print this page] What does one mean by emancipation? What does one mean by emancipation?
When somebody, especially a minor, is set free of all legal binding with parents and/or guardians, and is relinquished of all restrictions normally places on minors, it is called emancipation. It refers to the efforts that one may put in to get legal and political rights of an adult and equality with adults. Once emancipated, a minor gets the rights of an adult and is treated as an adult by the law. Laws that govern the process of emancipation may be complicated and can give rise to various legal questions. Given below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the legal emancipation process:
What would be the consequences if a 16 year old pregnant girl moves out to live by herself?
Unless a child is emancipated by the court, she may not be able to legally move out of his/her parents home till she is 18 years old. A judge may grant emancipation if the child is still in school, has a job and can independently afford a place to stay independently. In the case of a pregnancy, the judge may grant the minor medical emancipation. If emancipation is not granted and child moves out, the parents will be responsible for her till she turns 18 years old.
Will the parent be responsible for a child till he/she is granted emancipation?
The parent of a child may be legally and medically responsible for the child when he/she is waiting for the emancipation to be granted. Only after the emancipation is granted can the parent be relieved of all legal and medical responsibility towards the child.
What are the emancipation laws in the United Kingdom?
A child should be at least 18 years old to be legally emancipated in the United Kingdom.
Can a child who is 18 years old decide about the visitation rights between two parents?
A child is legally considered to be an adult and can take his / her own decisions once he or she turns 18 years old. The court typically does not get involved in sorting the issues regarding visitation rights between the parents once the child is 18 years old because at that age the child is considered no longer a minor. The court may only interfere if it is proved that the child is medically or mentally incapable of taking his or her own decisions on the matter.
In most situations, parents are responsible for the upbringing of a child till the child reaches the age of majority. Likewise, during this period, parents have complete legal and medical rights to take decisions on behalf of the minor child. In a situation involving emancipation, most people are not fully aware of the implications. The transfer of legal responsibility from a parent to the child can have far reaching legal impact. When situations arise, many times people can have various unanswered legal questions about medical and legal emancipation, the laws and procedures involved in it. One may sometimes need the guidance of an Expert to get clarifications on this subject. In such a situation, one may ask a family lawyer and get all of ones questions answered.
