Emancipated Minor


Definition of Emancipated Minor

An emancipated minor is an individual under the age of 18 who has been freed from parental or guardian control by a court order. In certain cases, a minor is granted emancipation if his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) have abandoned the child or are deceased.



Emancipated Minor Explained

Laws for emancipation vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In some countries, a minor is considered emancipated if he or she gets married, attains financial self-sufficiency, or starts serving in the military. In the United States, a person below the age of 18 is considered to be a minor and emancipation comes under the jurisdiction of state laws. Most states require minors who file for emancipation in a family court to demonstrate that the change is in their best interest and to prove that they are financially self-sufficient.