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.
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.