Legal emancipation: is it a good idea, or too hard if you want to continue your...

[Char]

...education? I'm only fourteen now, but I've been considering emancipating myself from my parents when I'm sixteen. It's not that my home is abusive, or anything, it's just that I fight so much with my mom that it's driving both of us crazy. I know lots of kids say that, but my mother and I literally hate each other. So, I was thinking about getting legally emancipated when I'm sixteen, and getting an apartment in my hometown and continuing to go to school. Do you think it would be too difficult to live on my own and also get an education? Should I just try to deal with it for four more years until I'm in college? Thanks!

[CAITLIN]

In order to become emancipated, you have to petition the courts and prove that you can support yourself financially. It's not a guarantee that it will be granted. It is usually only granted in extreme cases but not for normal teenage-parent struggles. I'd suggest that you just wait for college. Every teenager has issues with their parents. You are not alone in that.

Financially- consider that you will need about $2,500-$3,000 a month after taxes. You may need more or less depending on where you live but for rent, renters insurance, car, car insurance, utilities, food, gas, and miscellaneous expenses, that amount is probably a good estimate of what you will need.