[Yukii]

Hello,
I am 15, and my parent wants to move far away from where I currently live. I need to know if I could possibly live with a good friend, and her parents? Or if I have to go to the court, social services, or wait till I am 16 to get emancipated? Is the legal age to get emancipated 16, or could I do it now?You see, my parent is a little messed up, she believes that people stalk her, and has been for 4 years (and not just 2 people stalking her, she thinks the whole town is). She also thinks people have these little machines which get pointing at her, and are "zapping" her (as in electrocuting her). I need to get as much information as possible.
Thank you.

[smoothy]

First... exactly how do you plan to pay for all the lawyers and legal fees to fight for emancipation when you turn 16 (lawyers charge $250 per hour and up and it will take a LOT of hours? Don't expect your parents to do it. You don't get it without Lawyers, which cost a lot of money... and then prove you have enough after that to support yourself on your own income. You don't get to live with a friend or their parents.

I'm going to assume you don't make a LOT of money right now... and worse probably have ZERO income. Why do you think this friends parents want to pay all the money it would cost to fed, house and clothe you plus pay for your medical insurance and all the medical bills that will occur over time.

These are things that matter and things few kids your age think of when considering this. Living on yor own is neither cheap nor easy, but you would have to prove you are fully capable of doing it without any outside assistance.

A lot depends on what country and what state you live in. The laws are not the same everyplace.

[Fr_Chuck]

1. No, unless your parents give permission, you can not move in with a friend.

2. No, social services is not going to do anything, since you are not abused, and even if abused, they still work hard to keep or return you to your home.

3. It is doubtful that you can be emancipated, it happens very rarely and you will have to prove you have a. job to pay all your bills, b. money to afford your home house (not living with someone else) c. and money for attorneys and courts, which will be 1000's

So you are a child and while it is bad, you have to move to where your parents move.

Parents move for many reasons, jobs, health, family and more. Children go, because they have no rights and have to obey their parents.

[joypulv]

You don't need lawyers to apply for emancipation, but you do need to tell us where you live, and when you turn 16.
If your mother and your friend's parents agree, other legal arrangements can be made.

[J_9]

Do you have any family you can live with?

Has your mother's psychiatric illness been officially diagnosed and is she being treated?

[ScottGem]

I moved this from the Teens forum as this is a legal issue. And, as a legal issue, we need to know your general local as laws vary by area.

In most places that I know of, you do need to be alt least 16 to APPLY for emancipation. But to be GRANTED emancipation you have to prove that you can support yourself and care for yourself. And that is very difficult to do, Very few petitions for emancipation are granted.

As J_9 asked, is your parent's illness diagnosed? If not, you don't stand a chance. However, if you can prove the illness you could be taken from her care. But that may be going from the frying pan into the fire. Almost certainly you will be placed in foster care and in may not be in your same area, so you still have to move.