If my son is emancipated does that take all legal responsibility off of me and his father?
Full Question:
Answer:
A minor is considered emancipated when he or she has achieved independence from his or her parents. A minor child may be allowed to petition a court for emancipation to free the minor child from the control of parents and allow the minor to live on his/her own or under the control of others. Emancipation usually applies to adolescents who leave the parents' household by agreement or demand. Some of the most common methods for a minor to become emancipated include marriage, reaching the age of majority, entering military service, or by court order. A parent may also formally or informally agree to give up some or all of his/her parental control. For example, a parent might consent to allowing a child to establish a separate household. In other cases, a parent may force the minor to leave and support him/herself. Generally, parental consent is required, except in cases of parental misconduct that causes the minor to leave the home. Requirements for emancipation vary by state, but typically a minor who seeks a court order of emancipation must prove that the minor is a certain minimum age or older; they willingly want to live separate and apart from their parents with the consent or acquiescence of the parents (the parents do not object to the minor living apart from them); the minor can manage their own finances; the minor has a source of income that does not come from any illegal activity; and emancipation would not be contrary to the minor's best interests.
Eligibility of an emancipated minor will be governed by the contract terms of each insurer. Typically, an amancipated minor no longer qualifies as a dependent on a parent's health insurance plan. I suggest contacting your insurer.
In Louisiana, there are three kind of emancipation:
1. Emancipation conferring the power of administration.
2. Emancipation by marriage.
3. Emancipation relieving the minor from the time prescribed by
law for attaining the age of majority.
The following are LA statutes:
Art. 3991. Petition; court where proceeding brought
The petition of a minor for judicial emancipation shall be filed in the
district court in the parish of his domicile, and shall set forth the
reasons why he desires to be emancipated and the value of his property,
if any.
Art. 3992. Consent of parent or tutor
The petition of the minor shall be accompanied by a written consent to
the emancipation and a specific declaration that the minor is fully
capable of managing his own affairs, by the following:
(1) The father and mother if both are alive, or the survivor if one is
dead. If either parent is absent or unable to act, the consent of the
other parent alone is necessary. If the parents are judicially separated
or divorced, and the custody of the minor has been awarded by judgment to
one of the parents, the consent of that parent alone is necessary. A
surviving parent is not required to qualify as natural tutor in order to
give such consent, nor is the appointment of a special tutor necessary.
If the petition is filed on the ground of ill treatment, refusal to
support, or corrupt examples, parental consent is unnecessary, but the
parents or the surviving parent shall be cited to show cause why the minor
should not be emancipated.
(2) The tutor of the minor if one has been appointed. If a tutor of his
property and a tutor of his person have been appointed for the minor, the
consent of both is necessary. If no tutor has been appointed, or if the
tutor has died, resigned, or been removed, and there is no surviving
parent who is able to act, a special tutor shall be appointed. If the
tutor or special tutor refuses to give his consent, he may be cited to
show cause why the minor should not be emancipated.
Art. 3993. Hearing; judgment
If the judge is satisfied that there is good reason for emancipation
and that the minor is capable of managing his own affairs, he shall
render a judgment of emancipation, which shall declare that the minor is
fully emancipated and relieved of all the disabilities which attach to
minority, with full power to perform all acts as fully as if he had
reached the age of majority.
Art. 366. Emancipation by notarial act
The minor, although not married, may be emancipated by his father or,
upon the death of the father, by his mother or, in the event of divorce or
separation from bed and board, by the natural tutor or cotutors acting
jointly, when he shall have arrived at the full age of fifteen years.
This emancipation takes place by the declaration to that effect
of the father, the mother, or both, before a notary public in the
presence of two witnesses.
Art. 385. Emancipation of minor sixteen years or older
A minor sixteen years of age or older may be judicially emancipated and
relieved of the disabilities which attach to minority as provided in
Articles 3991 through 3994 of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure.