I am a teenager looking to be emancipated in the state of Maryland. What steps should I take in order achieve emancipation?

How old are you?
Are you able to continue school while working legally to support yourself?
Will you be able to keep a roof over your head?
Why do you want to be emancipated?

We'll need more details before we can give you any solid advice.

1. first and foremost you have to have a valid reason that is one accepted by the court.

2. you have to have income that will allow you to live on your own, ( not living with another friend or family)

3. you have to have a plan that will allow for your education when doing all of that.

So what is the reason you need this

http://www.peoples-law.org/children/emancipation/emancipation%20home.htm (http://www.peoples-law.org/children/emancipation/emancipation%20home.htm)

Know that judges rarely even hear emancipation cases and when they do ,they are usually denied.
If you are having family problems there are other avenues to go to get help.
Lets discuss those options as emancipation is unlikely.

Well I'm a sixteen year old girl living in Maryland who is being abused by both of my parents. I have decent grades, a relatively steady job, and a place I can live one I become emancipated. I'm just not sure how to begin the process

As any of the abuse been documented? And what does "relatively steady" mean?

well im a sixteen year old girl living in maryland who is being abused by both of my parents. i have decent grades, a relatively steady job, and a place i can live one i become emancipated. im just not sure how to begin the process

The link I gave you explains the process for your state.
If you are feeling threatened now ,you can call the police.
They will insure that you get to a safe place.
Here is a link for domestic violence.Reach out now to get the help you need and then you can answer the emancipation question at a later time.
National Domestic Violence Hotline (http://www.ndvh.org/)

Can you explain to me what you mean by documenting the abuse? And I'm a farmhand and I ride peoples horses for a living. However, in the current economy, business isn't fantastic, but I'm still making enough to support myself.

artlady, thank you very much, I really appreciate your link, but I'm concerned for my younger siblings. My parents only abuse me, not them, and I don't want my sister or brother being separated from their family because of problwms not involving them

Is this just going to be he said/she said if it goes to court? Or are there police reports? CPS reports? Can a counselor or teacher come forward and say "yes, i know her parents have been abusive towards her"? Or even a family member or family friend? Do you have pictures of marks that they have left? Anything at all to prove that they have been abusive?

I appreciate all of your help, but this is a very bad situation for me, and artlady, I also apperciate your link, but I have explored other options then emancipation, (ive tried family counseling, therapy) and I feel like even though it would be a life altering descion, it needs to be done

artlady, thank you very much, i really appreciate ur link, but im concerned for my younger siblings. my parents only abuse me, not them, and i dont want my sister or brother being seperated from their family because of problwms not involving them

Is it only a matter of time before the other children are abused as well?
Not taking action is not going to change anything for anyone.
What kind of abuse are we talking about here?
Physical,mental,emotional sexual?
Can you share what is happening?

justcurious55, yes, many peple can vouch for me, but I don't have any pictures. If I am abused again, do you think that I should take some pictures as evidence? Because I'm at a loss on what I should do

I have been abused both physically and mentally(emotinally) and its only me at risk

artlady, thank you very much, i really appreciate ur link, but im concerned for my younger siblings. my parents only abuse me, not them, and i dont want my sister or brother being seperated from their family because of problwms not involving them

If the other children are not involved then they would not be in harms way at all.
You could make that clear.
Before you see a judge ,you will have to document your abuse and there will be child services involved.There is really no way around that.
The place you will be able to stay ,will they be found as fit people by the court?
They may also be put under the microscope,they have to proven fit.

Basically, I need to become emancipated asap

Yes they are responsible adults who I can trust.

go to the local courthouse and get an application

Do you know the exact steps? Because I feel like this needs to be done as soon as it can

First it is not going to happen for months after you file normally. And you have to have proff, witness that saw the abuse, and documents from when it was reported to children and family services.

If these adults are willing to take you in and support you emotionally,I would say you need to go to your local courthouse and file papers for emergency emancipation.
Your state does not have an emancipation policy in many regards.
Here is another link that explains it in more detail.
Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (http://www.djs.state.md.us/faq.html)

One again, thank you artlady. Also, I'm not sure how to report it to family services. And what would happen if I did?

I'm not saying that it's not the best option for you. I just believe it's best to look at all other options before making such a decision. I wanted to be emancipated when I was about your age too. But then I looked into it and looked into my other options and for me, it was best to have my aunt and uncle petition for guardianship of me (thankfully they were willing to).

That's good that people can vouch for you. Because getting out of there definitely seems to be best for you here. An abusive situation is never healthy. It's helpful to have proof because without proof it's hard to show the court why it's best for you to be removed from your parent's care. I believe you because, well, you have no reason to lie here. But how does the court know that you're being abused and you're not just some 16 year old that doesn't want to live by her parent's rules? I highly doubt your parents will go into court and go "oh yeah, we abuse her all the time!" and the judge will go "ok. let's emancipate you." it just doesn't work that way.

Next time they leave marks, take pictures. Keep them someplace safe so that if you need them later for court, you have them.

Is there a reason you haven't called the police yet? For me, it was because I was scared. I didn't call the police at first because I was terrified that they wouldn't do anything and I would just be beaten worse after they left. But eventually, the fear was overcome by me getting sick and tired or being knocked around. That and seeing how my younger siblings reacted to me being hit. Abuse typically does trickle down. Your younger siblings may not be being abused now, but they probably will be later. And the abuse towards you is probably negatively affecting them now as well.

one again, thank you artlady. also, im not sure how to report it to family services. and what would happen if i did?

They would come into your home and do an investigation.
Talking to the family members and try to see if your claim is real.
They go on the assumption that it is but there is always skepticism.
They might think you are just an unhappy teen.
If they decide that there has been abuse and you tell them you have a place to stay and your parents are agreeable,then you take it from there.

i'm not saying that it's not the best option for you. i just believe it's best to look at all other options before making such a decision. i wanted to be emancipated when i was about your age too. but then i looked into it and looked into my other options and for me, it was best to have my aunt and uncle petition for guardianship of me (thankfully they were willing to).

that's good that people can vouch for you. because getting out of there definitely seems to be best for you here. an abusive situation is never healthy. it's helpful to have proof because without proof it's hard to show the court why it's best for you to be removed from your parent's care. i believe you because, well, you have no reason to lie here. but how does the court know that you're being abused and you're not just some 16 year old that doesn't want to live by her parent's rules? i highly doubt your parents will go into court and go "oh yeah, we abuse her all the time!" and the judge will go "ok. let's emancipate you." it just doesn't work that way.

next time they leave marks, take pictures. keep them someplace safe so that if you need them later for court, you have them.

is there a reason you haven't called the police yet? for me, it was because i was scared. i didn't call the police at first because i was terrified that they wouldn't do anything and i would just be beaten worse after they left. but eventually, the fear was overcome by me getting sick and tired or being knocked around. that and seeing how my younger siblings reacted to me being hit. abuse typically does trickle down. your younger siblings may not be being abused now, but they probably will be later. and the abuse towards you is probably negatively affecting them now as well.
Out of greenies hon!
So sorry you had to go through that my dear,no kid deserves that !

The whole idea of callign the police terrifies me, just like you said. Unfortunately, I don't have any relatives to take care of me, and if my parents found out, there may be a chance that they might kill me. They are very controlling

I agree. No kid should eve have to go through what I went through. So I'm all for emancipation and guardianships. But I have to remind myself that it's not the best option for everyone so I like to ask lots of questions before encouraging it. I guess I try to make sure I'm not too biased.

I think you should speak to a school counselor and or an adult you can trust who knows you and your family.

i agree. no kid should eve have to go through what i went through. so i'm all for emancipation and guardianships. but i have to remind myself that it's not the best option for everyone so i like to ask lots of questions before encouraging it. i guess i try to make sure i'm not too biased.

Having been there I think you have a better insight so I am trusting your judgment and I do not see a bias :)

OK. Good. I don't want to be biased.

I did learn from my experience that it is very helpful to have professionals who can vouch for you. I was seeing a personal counselor before we started the guardianship process. I'd had sessions with my mom too. Her letter to the court was really important. The court ordered counseling for me with both of my parents. The hope was that we could work things out there. It ended with my father yelling that my brother and I were liars and storming out slamming the door so hard it's a wonder nothing broke. That counselor's letter was also very important. Same with the person they sent out from family services. She had to right up a report and give her opinion what she believed was in the best interest of me (well, and my brother). It was a long process. But my aunt and uncle had temporary guardianship before the permanent was established. So we were able to stay there with them. Hopefully you won't have to stay with your parents while it's going on. But that's why family services are important. If you're being abused, they can help get you out of there quickly.

I called the police and I'm trying to be emancipated .
They did nothing but laughed in my face so don't call the police they won't help.