Emancipation.

Parents Forum
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<p>Hi CCers.</p>

<p>I was curious as to how emancipation works, in regards to financial aid and colleges. I'm not saying that I want to get emancipated (lol) but I've heard of people doing it. Any insights?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>-MM</p>

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<p>To limitfox: Using the word “emancipation” is not racist. There is a legal concept called “emancipation” which refers to the process that allows a minor to legally cut all financial and legal ties to his/her parents. Emancipation is only available in the most dire of circumstances and is truly a tragic thing for a kid to have to pursue. But it ain’t racist.</p>

<p>To miss_murd3r: Emancipation is a very long and very difficult situation. But it winds up being discussed rather frequently here on CC because many students who have parents that can’t or won’t pay for their (sometimes huge and ridiculous) college expenses bring it up because “emancipated minor” is one category of “under 24 year old student” who are allowed to fill out the FAFSA form as in independent student instead of a dependent student.</p>

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<p>Thank you, Robinsuesanders. </p>

<p>Limitofx deleted his posts…so I’m going to disregard that. Haha. </p>

<p>That makes sense, and I would assume that’s why most minors would do that, for expense purposes. Thank you! :)</p>

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<p>As far as I know, you have to prove abuse or something equally abhorrent to get legal emancipation.</p>

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<p>No, that’s why it’s a frequently brought up topic: Students who are minors are * hoping * that emancipation will allow them to file the FAFSA as an independent, and hence, they believe they’ll be eligible for more need-based aid.</p>

<p>But in reality, most minors who actually pursue the long, legal path for emancipation are dealing with parents who either are seriously abusing them physically or emotionally or are dealing with parents who have effectively abandoned them due to serious parental abuse of alcohol or drugs or who have parents who really have physically and financially abandoned them.</p>

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<p>Or celebrity kids whose parents are stealing their earnings. :)</p>

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<p>Haha, I chuckled at that. :)</p>

<p>Thanks Robin. I understand emancipation on the grounds of abuse; I was curious as to how it is brought up in terms of college finances. Thank you. :D</p>

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<p>miss_mudd, students here sometimes inquire about emancipation from their parents in HOPES that it is an easy process and they can become independent and get lots of need based financial aid as a result. First…it’s not easy…in fact it is VERY hard to become emancipated from your parents. It means complete and TOTAL lack of contact with them AT ALL…this means no birthday cards, no phone calls, no visits, no contact…NONE AT ALL. Of course in a very dire situation this may be needed but in most cases it is NOT possible to even gain this status.</p>

<p>The reality is that MOST students are dependents for financial aid purposes as undergrad students. It’s the very rare exception when they are not.</p>