I am 16 years old and I will be 17 on Valentines Day. I was placed in repite earlier this year, the first week in October. I was then put back home with my mom and now I am in foster care. A friend was telling me that I could be emancipated because I do not want to go back home with my mother. I was wondering if you could explain to me what I can do to get this straightened out. I was abused more then half my life and my mother is an alcoholic. Keep in mind that I have two younger sister that are 11 and 14 so what would happen as far as them? They want to go back home and I don't! I have too much to look forward to to have my life ruined anymore then it already has.

To be emancipated you would have to have a job and an apartment. Basically it is proving that you can be an adult, live on your own, and take care of yourself before the age of adulthood.

Many times emancipation takes much longer than the year it would take before you turn 18.

I am sorry for the trouble you are having, have you discussed with your case worker that you don't want to go back ?

But you would have to have enough money to hire an attorney, a job making enough money to pay all your bills and more to be emancipated, and it would most likely take months, if they allowed it. You would have a better chance getting social services to keep you in foster care.