How to Get a Minor Emancipated in New Jersey or Florida
In many states when a child turns 18, he is legally emancipated from his parents. This means the parents no longer have an obligation to support the young person financially or physically. Celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan and Macaulay Culkin filed for emancipation when they were in their teens. While a minor becomes an adult on his 18th birthday in Florida, New Jersey has no set age for reaching adulthood. The courts in these states have different requirements for emancipating minors.
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Instructions
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File for emancipation in New Jersey so you will no longer be responsible for child support payments. This is because New Jersey has no set age for emancipation. Show that the minor completed post-secondary education (college), is married, has a permanent residence separate from his parents, has entered the armed forces, or obtained full-time employment after his 18th birthday. Seek advice from a New Jersey child support attorney on the complete course of action. If a child is attending college, the state usually requires parents to support him financially until his 21st birthday.
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Petition the Florida court for an order of emancipation. You can do this if the teen 16 or older wants to marry and a parent objects or is not available to sign legal papers giving consent; has a full-time job and wants to be financially self-sufficient and sign his own contracts; lives apart from his parents and has made adequate arrangements for future housing and is supporting himself financially, or is in the military, according to The State of Florida's website. Emancipated minors lose the benefits of parental support and the protection of the Department of Children and Families.
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File documents for emancipation in the Florida county where the child resides. The papers you need to file include a civil cover sheet, summons, petition for emancipation of a minor, notice of a permanent mailing address, motion for default and statement of responsibility. The minor has to prove that he can support himself without public benefits, explain why he needs to be emancipated and how emancipation is in his best interests, and provide the signature of both parents. If the minor is not in the care of his parents, his legal guardian or guardian ad litem can sign. The minor will need to have an attorney and file a motion for a hearing with the court.
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