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Emancipation means becoming free of control by another. When people talk about emancipation, they are usually talking about the emancipation of a minor. A minor is said to be emancipated when s/he becomes independent from parents or guardians.
In New Hampshire there is no law or rule allowing a minor to seek emancipation. A child in NH is considered to be emancipated at the age of 18. A child will also be considered to be emancipated when the child marries or enters the armed forces or military academy. These things would require the parent or guardian’s permission before the child turns 18.
Sometimes emancipation comes up when parents divorce. In those cases the court would look at the facts of the case, and the actions of the parties, and then decide whether or not to order child support for the child in question.
Sometimes a parent or guardian allows a minor to live independently. If this happens and then the parent or a state agency interferes or tries to force the child back into a guardian’s household, the child could ask the court to assist. In that case, the child would simply be asking the court to validate the circumstances that already exist, and to enforce the parent or guardian’s grant of permission. Such a situation would be VERY RARE and no child should consider this to mean that they can petition for permission to move away from their parent or guardian’s authority. Any child who thinks s/he is in a situation like this should discuss it with a lawyer first.
Source: New Hampshire Legal Aid Self-Help Guide
Source: New Hampshire Legal Aid |
If you are under 18 years old, and have never been married, New Hampshire law requires that as of January 1, 2012, your doctor must notify at least one of your parents or your guardian before an abortion can be performed. The law also provides a process in which you can ask a judge to decide whether your parent or guardian must be notified before an abortion is performed.
These instructions explain the process you must follow if you decide you want to ask a judge to allow you to get an abortion without notifying your parents or guardian. The first step is to file a form called "Petition for Waiver of Parental Notice for Abortion Requested by a Minor." It is very important that you read the petition and read these instructions so that you understand the entire process.
Source: New Hampshire Judicial Branch