How can I become emancipated?

Children with high incomes may wish to become emancipated like the high profile cases of Macaulay Culkin, Drew Barrymore, and Ariel Winter (Alex Dunphy of Modern Family). Others may wish to be emancipated so that they can make their own decisions. If you are considering emancipation, here are the steps you must take to be successful.

In North Carolina there a two ways to become emancipated: 

1. Use this Form ask the court to become emancipated after you turn 16 and live in the same North Carolina county for 6 months
2. Get married

If you are not married, you must ask the court to emancipate you. In order to do this you must convince the court that your emancipation is:

1. In your best interest
2. That you do not support your parents and they would not need your continued support
3. That you can support yourself without your parents' assistance

Take into consideration that you will be responsible for enrolling in school, continuing to attend school (on time), and working to support yourself if you do become emancipated. Also remember that if either parent is paying child support to the other, payments will stop once you become emancipated.

***If you have questions about the emancipation process and live in the areas listed below, please contact our office for more information. Keep in mind that there are many financial implications to both you and your parents when filing for emancipation so always contact an attorney before taking any action.***

Kisala Watkins Law Group, PLLC
323 E. Chapel Hill Street, Suite 203B
Durham, NC 27701
P: 919-321-6569
Nastasia@kisalawatkins.com
www.kisalawatkins.com

We assist clients in the following areas:

Orange County, NC

• Cary, NC
• Chapel Hill, NC
• Carrboro, NC
• Hillsborough, NC
• Mebane, NC
• Efland, NC 

Durham County, NC

• Durham
• RTP
• Bahama
• Rougemont

*Neither KisalaWatkins Law Group, PLLC nor Nastasia Watkins own the rights to the pictures listed above and all pictures are posted for illustrative purposes only. You do not become a client of Kisala Watkins Law Group, PLLC unless you enter into a written agreement signed by you and an attorney at this firm. Such agreement must also indicate the scope of the work that is to be done. Correspondence by mail, fax, blog, or email does not establish an attorney-client relationship unless a written agreement has been entered into by both parties. Any information provided is based on the writer's understanding of North Carolina law and a consultation is required to provide adequate legal advice based on your situation.