Children need not wait till eighteen for adulthood but may divorce their parents before that to become emancipated or free from parental custody or control and be responsible for themselves instead of the parents.
In most states or jurisdictions minors must apply to the court to gain emancipation. In order to succeed in such petition the minor must have sufficient money and income to be self-supporting and also a separate place to live in.
Emancipation is automatic when a minor joins the armed forces or gets married. However, the minimum marriage age is not lowered in any state to facilitate the emancipation of a minor.
Emancipation law varies from state to state. While in some states there are no age restrictions for emancipation, others have the set the age between 14 to 17 years.
An emancipated minor is legally competent to take his medical and healthcare decisions, enter into any contract, buy or sell property, sue and be sued and apply for a work permit without parental consent. However, even an emancipated minor is obliged to follow the concerned state law for compulsory school attendance. The law does not relax the minimum voting age for an emancipated minor. For emancipation, some states also insist on parental consent or acquiescence, which can also be circumstantial or by necessary implication.
