There has been a lot of talk on the internet as of late about a lot of teens wishing to become emancipated. Whether it be from Abuse, bad home life, or just a desire of some other reasoning. They think becoming emancipated is an easy process and that it will free you from all that is going on and set you into a way easier life. This is a huge misunderstanding. Because it is not. So I decided to talk about Emancipation, the Pro's And Con's for any teen or parent looking into doing this.


Being "emancipated" or out on your own isn't easy as you are thinking it is going to be. Most say "I have a well paying job and a car". That doesn't mean anything when it comes to self supporting. Unless you are paying the rent, every utility, trash, sewage, and what have you, it becomes very difficult to stay above water. Right now where you are at someone is paying for your roof over your head, not just rent but everything else. Grocery cost for a month is expensive. In my own home I am trying to live off of $150 a month grocery bill, but it never happens. Once the grocery order runs out, I am always running to get more food items, and I budget well.

If you want to say "Well I can get food stamps". Stop right there, because No, you cannot get Government/Public Assistance when Emancipated. No Judge is going to emancipate you so Tax Payers have to pay for you. So that means no Food Stamps, No Cash Assistance, No Medical Coverage, No Section 8 Housing. None of that is available to you.

- Bills/Budget -

Since I started with bills portion of Emancipation lets make a list now of what it will cost. Mind you I am going by my area's pay range which is VERY Low compared to other places. So to get a wider look, Look at your parents bills, or look around online for the average price for your Area.

Now, I work full time & go to school, but we'll get to that after the list. My Job pays $11.60 an hour occasionally with a .50 cent Premium for working nights. My paychecks are Weekly, my money after Taxes is between $330-$350 a week. Times that by 4 and you get my monthly income of roughly $1400. This is Not A lot. Now lets run down my bills.

Rent/Monthly: $350
Electric: $40
Garbage: $19
Groceries: $300
Car Insur.: $100
Renter/MineSub: $26
Health Insur: $35
Phone: $100
Cable/Internet: $99
Laundry: $20
Gas for the Car: $201

After that I have a remainder of $110 left for the month. Which isn't much to go on, you will need school supplies, Lunches while at work, Shampoo, soaps and that sort of thing need to be in your budget also. There will be no money left over for much of anything.

- Transporation -

If you choose to own a car, you will have to cover the Insurance, Cover the gas. My bill of $201 a month for gas in the car isn't an over estimate, the price of gas here being $3.35. My Car holds 15 gallons. That means I can only fill my tank once a week, just to keep it in that budget. You also have to have money saved up incase you need car repair. Inspections, Renewing your registration, and anything that comes up. Just recently I discovered how difficult this is my car broke down and until it was fixed the bill for my car was $1200, nearly a month's income!


If you do not have a car you will have to budget in how you will get to and from work & school. If its in walking distance that's fine, you will also have to figure in how much it will cost to go to the grocery store and such. If you take a bus//subway, or even bug a friend to help. You will have to pay for it.

- Insurance -

Depending on the place you rent the Landlord may request you have Renters Insurance. This doesn't cost too much and can really help you out should something happen to any of your property. However the small amount it does cost eats more into your budget. In my apartment my landlord requested Renters. He also requested we all have Mine Subsidence as well, this is usually for homeowners but he requested it and for us to live on his property we had to get it. So depending on your area of where your apartment will be at you may be required by your landlord to get different kinds of insurance.

Health Insurance, this topic gets a lot of questions also. Do your parents or Dad have you on their insurance policy at work? If so this will stop once you are emancipated and you will be required to obtain your own. There is no way around this one. And you cannot gain that through Government Help. Which was already stated.

- Housing -

Renting - In most States that have a Statute for emancipation requires you to be at least 16. (Most). So now you need to rent an apartment. You cannot live with friends, someone you know, or even a distant family member. This is not living on your own and no matter how you phrase it, or say "well I'll pay my own way and rent" This will not work. Roommates will for most Judges not work either, unless you can prove you can provide should they move out and leave you with the Lease. And no matter how good of friends you may think you are, this happens quite often.

At 16, even if you are Emancipated, finding a Landlord willing to rent to you will be a struggle. If they feel it will not be a good Idea they will not rent to you. They need the money just as much as you do. And going through an Eviction takes a lot of time and work.


Most rental owners these days require a credit check, some require Background check as well. At 16, you most likely will have no Credit. Which when doing credit checks can almost be as bad as having Bad Credit and will turn away potential Landlords. This is Common with Private Renters, and Complex's. A lot of landlords require References of other landlords of places you have lived in, and paid for. Giving them your parents information will not help you, because you were not self supporting when there. Your parents are also under No obligation to help you out anymore.


My apartment is small its a Efficiency, meaning it is basically just one room. With a bathroom and Kitchen. This is all my budget could afford. This is realistically all your Budget will afford. Don't think when your at home that when/if you get emancipated that you can move and find a nice 1-2 bedroom apartment. They more room they have, the more expensive they get.


If you do find yourself with a Landlord willing to rent to you, you now need to consider how much it will cost to move in. If the landlord required a Background/Credit Check, you may shell out $30 for that. Most places require you to give First Months and Last month's rent, if in a Year Lease. In my case, the landlord wanted $350 for first month, and $350 for security deposit. Some places may require, first month, last month and security. So expect to spend well over $1,000 to move in.

So now you're moved in, but you have no furniture. Remember all that stuff you have at your parents house. do you think you can go and pick it up? Sure if they allow you to. But they still have no obligation to give you any of it, as they paid for it. It is their property. So now you must budget to get furniture, and cook ware. Because you do not want to waste your money eating out all the time. Get used to sleeping on the floor. I have been doing it since December now.

- Schooling -

School, your school grades cannot slip, you cannot miss days or the Judge will place you back in the care of your parents.
That's right, the Judge can overturn his decision at ANY TIME he feels fit, and send you back home. You must continue school, and continue working.

If you are in any school activities you can pretty much expect to have to drop them. As you will have to take up as many hours at work as you can to afford to be on your own.

College is another thing that needs to be brought up, a lot teens have their parents help pay their way or totally pay their way through college. Once you become emancipated your parents no long will be supporting you through college, nor are they obligated to. They aren't obligated to give you any of their financial information, which is needed when filing for Financial Aid. This part is very important. College is something you will need in your life. It will get you towards a Career of your choice and bring in more better paying jobs. Which will mean the difference between struggling and being Financially stable.

If you are thinking about how you have all these kinds of scholarships, or how you feel your grades are good enough for such help, I wouldn't pin your hopes on just that alone. With the amount of stress you will be under and how busy you will be
it wouldn't be surprising if your chances for Scholarships drops.

If you choose not to go to college, that is fine and your choice. Joining the Military may be in your interest, as it is also in mine. Joining the Military will also open up various other doors, they will help pay for college, it will give you experience and the discipline that may be needed to get you on the right track in life.

Whatever you choose, once emancipated you must stay in School, stay out of trouble and do well.

- Myths & Misunderstandings -

Now lets discuss some other misunderstandings, if your in a home where there is abuse this will not grant you emancipation as this is a situation best suited for CPS in your area. If you don't know how to contact them Google Cps & your state. Or send me a message and I will help you out.

If your parents make you do chores, this will not get you emancipation. Guess what its your job to do Chores, and once on your own You'll have to still do them and more.

A Judge will not emancipate you to live with a boyfriend or a Girlfriend, just because your parents do not approve of your relationship. It will never happen.

If you're pregnant, a Judge will not grant you emancipation for whatever the reason is because you have shown lack of maturity and supporting two instead of One will be just as difficult. (If you are a teen who got pregnant due to no actions of your own I apologize if you are offended.)

You cannot get emancipated because your parents just don't understand you.

Emancipation is Rare, nearly impossible. The reasons being is it is not easy to live on your own, especially when underage. No matter if you are emancipated or not, everyone else doesn't have to treat you any different. It doesn't make you an Adult. You cannot Smoke or buy cigs until you turn 18. You cannot drink until 21.

It will not allow you to do what was illegal before. It will not allow you to have sexual relations with a boyfriend or girlfriend who is older than you are. Which really, I have to say its just disgusting. But once emancipated, you will have flat out no social life. Between working and going to school there will be no other time.

- End Notes -

If you're thinking about Emancipation, I hope this helped you see what it is really about. It is not easy and will most likely cause more stress to you, than you may be going through already. I hope you also do not take my Budget and think that it will be easy for you, because as I had stated the price of rent and various other things in my area is very low, as is our incomes. You need to add it up using your area's information and prices.

Most requirements for Emancipation require you to be already living on your own, and self supporting. And I am in no way suggesting a judge would allow you to get emancipated and then move out.

-------------------------------------

I am no longer using this blog but am leaving this post up as it has been helpful to some, other than that I will not be helping. Comments section has be disabled and will remain as so.


.