History Main / EmancipatedChild

* Airi "Nora" Nobara from ''Manga/WastefulDaysOfHighSchoolGirls''. She lives alone in an apartment paid by her parents because she couldn't tolerate living with her dad after he lied to her all of her life regarding having a pet cat because of his allergies, the condition being that she'd sustain the prospective cat with her own earnings.

* Used in ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3703685/1/Family Family]]'' by Middle Warner Sibling to explain how the Warners came to live on the studio lot. Yakko signed a contract with Warner Bros Studios that allowed them to seek legal action on his behalf to revoke the Warners' incarcerated father's parental rights and give them to Yakko. The studio provides the living space (the water tower) but Yakko has to manage the family's accounts and bills, make sure Wakko and Dot go to school and other such necessities. It's notable in that the story shows how draining all this can be on Yakko, who himself is only a young teenager, and how many mistakes he makes trying to do the job of an adult. Fortunately, he does have a lot of adult friends who are willing to offer him advice and ease his pressure, so the story is prevented from becoming a disaster.
* In Fanfic/LayingWasteToHalloween both Percy and Annabeth are emancipated from their parents. [[spoiler: Annabeth's father is dead, her stepmother is unable to care for her and she doesn't want to leave Virginia to go live in a group home.]] Percy's stepfather is abusive, [[spoiler: he has a restraining order against him]] and [[spoiler: his mother is in prison.]]
* {{Discussed}} in ''Fanfic/TheMeaningOfOne''. After the friction between Ginny and the rest of the Weasleys over [[MindlinkMates Ginny and Harry's connection]] almost comes to blows, Mr. Weasley points out to the rest of his family that 1) Harry has full legal access to his parents' Gringotts vault, which contains enough money to let Harry and Ginny live in luxury for the rest of their lives without even having to work and 2) Harry and Ginny's unique teleportation method lets them go anywhere they can picture, and not even Dumbledore has the slightest notion how it works or how to block it. In short, if Harry and Ginny ever decided to run away, nobody could stop them and they could live on their own for the rest of their lives. The ''only'' reason Ginny remains subject to her parent's authority is that she still loves them, and it would be wise not to push that too far.

* The 1984 film ''Film/IrreconcilableDifferences'' is all about this. Drew Barrymore plays a child who actually says, "I want to divorce my parents."
* ''Film/{{North}}'' divorces his parents and [[WalkingTheEarth goes out into the world]] to find new ones.

* Scifi author DavidGerrold uses this to depict the social changes to a future Earth. He's a fan of Creator/RobertAHeinlein who also used the trope.

** Inverted in ''Literature/TheWarAgainstTheChtorr'' when the protagonist Jim [=McCarthy=] gets divorced by his own mother after a dispute over access to the bounties her son gets from killing Chtorrans. He makes a belated attempt at reconciliation in a later novel, [[PartingWordsRegret only to find she's died.]]
* ''Literature/TheStarBeast'' by Creator/RobertAHeinlein. Betty Sorenson, one of the main characters, divorced her parents for an unspecified reason. The court system takes "a dim view of the arbitrary use of parental authority", such as coercion in the choice of career. Mr. Kiku warns Mrs. Stuart that her son (who was still a minor) could divorce her if she tried to prevent him from going to another star system.

* In Creator/KurtVonnegut's post-apocalyptic short story "The Big Space Fuck", children are given the right to sue their parents over absolutely everything, as a way to discourage breeding. The protagonist and his wife are presented with a court summons from their estranged daughter, who recently got arrested for bank robbery and needed to make it out that they'd ruined her life to avoid going to jail. They (and the sheriff presenting the summons) are promptly eaten by mutant lampreys instead.

* In ''Series/RedDwarf'' we find out that Rimmer divorced his [[HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood hilariously abusive parents]] at 14, but retained visitation rights to the family dog.

* In ''Series/{{Roswell}}'', this is how Michael gets away from his Abusive Foster dad in season 1.
* Subverted in an episode of ''Series/{{House}}'', a fifteen-year-old girl claims to have gotten emancipation but in reality, she stole someone's identity and forged the necessary papers.
* Maeby Funke of ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' once asked the family lawyer if she could divorce her parents, and was told she needed to prove that she was living in an unstable environment. Cue Maeby attempting to help her mother have an affair.
* The ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode "It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester" has an emancipated teen. Or rather, a centuries-old witch who disguises herself as an emancipated teen.
* Jenny sought to do this in ''Series/GossipGirl'' but in the end decided not to go through with it.
* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'':
** A VictimOfTheWeek is an actress, who turns out to be an emancipated minor now married to her manager. The dialogue implies that she bribed her parents to keep them from contesting the emancipation.
** Another victim, a teenager with a chromosomal disorder that makes her look like a young child, applies for emancipation to get out from under the thumb of her father and grandfather, who insist on treating her like a child even though she's almost eighteen. She eventually proves that she's smart enough to take care of herself, and the emancipation is granted.
* Eleanor did this at the age of fourteen in ''Series/TheGoodPlace'', and her neglectful, self-centered parents didn't even protest. Given how absurdly stupid and selfish they both were, Eleanor probably ''was'' better off alone than she would've been with them, but the damage was already done to her mindset and personality.

* Naturally, ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' has used this as a plot. Bart, finally tired of Homer's crappy parenting and neglect, gets himself emancipated, with his income coming from Homer's garnished wages intended to pay back money he stole from Bart's brief career acting in commercials as a baby. The judge even says she would never emancipate a ten-year-old, except in this case of blatant abuse and neglect she'll allow it.
* Angelica "divorced" her parents in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'', [[spoiler: but it was AllJustADream.]]
* Steve Smith divorces his parents in the season 2 ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' episode, Star Trek.
* In ''WesternAnimation/LittleElvisJonesAndTheTruckstoppers'' there is an episode where all the children in the town take their parents to court. Interestingly, it's played slightly (emphasis on slightly) more realistic in that the BigBad of the series encourages them and supports their case in order to get custody of Lil Elvis.

* This is quite common among child stars, especially when they have the wealth and connections unlike regular children. Common reasons includes their parents abusing their money and fame, stealing or misusing their earnings, excessively meddling into their careers, abusing them, and so on. Some examples include Ariel Winter, Drew Barrymore, Macaulay Culkin, Corey Feldman, and Jena Malone.
* Claudia Conway, teenage daughter of former Trump staffer Kellyanne Conway, made news when she demanded legal emancipation from her parents due to alleged emotional abuse. The news lead to Conway resigning from Trump's team few months before the 2020 election, and her vocally anti-Trump husband George Conway to resign from his political action group, before eventually walking out on the household in December.

[[/folder]]

* In ''Webcomic/SomethingPositive'', 17-year-old Helen from ''Webcomic/PennyAndAggie'' used her dad's money to hire a lawyer to serve him emancipation papers, resulting in her being emancipated within the week. Nancy, [[http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp08092010.shtml telling this story to Davan]], doesn't understand how that could possibly have worked.

* Scifi author DavidGerrold uses this to depict his future societies.

* ''Literature/TheStarBeast'': Betty Sorenson, one of the main characters, divorced her parents for an unspecified reason. The court system takes "a dim view of the arbitrary use of parental authority", such as coercion in the choice of career. Mr. Kiku warns Mrs. Stuart that her son (who was still a minor) could divorce her if she tried to prevent him from going to another star system.

** Inverted in ''Literature/TheWarAgainstTheChtorr'' when the protagonist Jim McCarthy gets divorced by his own mother after a dispute over access to the bounties her son gets from killing Chtorrans. He makes a belated attempt at reconciliation in a later novel, [[PartingWordsRegret only to find she's died.]]

* This is quite common among child stars, especially when they have the wealth and connections unlike regular children. Common reasons includes their parents abusing their money and fame, meddling into their careers, abusing them, to get more opportunities, and so on. Some examples include Ariel Winter, Drew Barrymore, Macaulay Culkin, Corey Feldman, and Jena Malone.

* While it's less common than the more volatile type -- and is often less visible when it ''does'' happen due to the lack of said volatility -- there have been some cases involving teens with significant careers (usually actors, athletes, and the like) where they and their parents agree to an amicable emancipation just because it's logistically easier for the person to manage their own career than for the parents to have to be involved with everything, as well as because it lifts some of the restrictions that usually apply to minors (such as requiring an adult chaperone/guardian for travel or, particularly in the film and TV industry, stricter restrictions on working hours than exist for adult actors). For example, actress Michelle Williams (''Series/DawsonsCreek'') was emancipated at age 15 with the consent of her parents simply because being able to work without the usual child actor restrictions would open up more opportunities for her (as directors and producers were often less willing to work with underage actors due to those limitations). Williams has made it clear that she had no problems with her parents and that the emancipation was entirely about facilitating her career; however, she has also admitted that in retrospect, the decision might not have been in her best interests, as it meant that she was expected to independently navigate an adult world as a 15-year-old, which made her a target for being taken advantage of.

* While it's less common than the more volatile type -- and is often less visible when it ''does'' happen due to the lack of said volatility -- there have been some cases involving teens with significant careers (usually actors, athletes, and the like) where they and their parents agree to an amicable emancipation just because it's logistically easier for the person to manage their own career than for the parents to have to be involved with everything, as well as because it lifts some of the restrictions that usually apply to minors (such as requiring an adult chaperone/guardian for travel or stricter restrictions on working hours than exist for adult actors). For example, actress Michelle Williams (''Series/DawsonsCreek'') was emancipated at age 15 with the consent of her parents simply because being able to work without the usual child actor restrictions would open up more opportunities for her (as directors and producers were often less willing to work with underage actors due to those limitations). Williams has made it clear that she had no problems with her parents and that the emancipation was entirely about facilitating her career; however, she has also admitted that in retrospect, the decision might not have been in her best interests, as it meant that she was expected to independently navigate an adult world as a 15-year-old, which made her a target for being taken advantage of.

* While it's less common than the more volatile type -- and is often less visible when it ''does'' happen due to the lack of said volatility -- there have been some cases involving teens with significant careers (usually actors, athletes, and the like) where they and their parents agree to an amicable emancipation just because it's logistically easier for the person to manage their own career than for the parents to have to be involved with everything, as well as because it lifts some of the restrictions that usually apply to minors (such as requiring an adult chaperone/guardian for travel or stricter restrictions on working hours than exist for adult actors). For example, actress Michelle Williams (''Series/DawsonsCreek'') was emancipated at age 15 simply because being able to work without the usual child actor restrictions would open up more opportunities for her (as directors and producers were often less willing to work with underage actors due to those limitations). Williams has made it clear that she had no problems with her parents, but that she and her parents agreed for Michelle to be emancipated in order to facilitate her career; however, she has also admitted that in retrospect, the decision might not have been in her best interests, as it meant that she was thrust into an adult world at 15 years old.

* While it's less common than the more volatile type -- and is often less visible when it ''does'' happen due to the lack of said volatility -- there have been some cases involving teens with significant careers (usually actors, athletes, and the like) where they and their parents agree to an amicable emancipation just because it's logistically easier for the person to manage their own career than for the parents to have to be involved with everything, as well as because it lifts some of the restrictions that usually apply to minors (such as requiring an adult chaperone/guardian for travel or stricter restrictions on working hours than exist for adult actors). For example, actress Michelle Williams (''Series/DawsonsCreek'') was emancipated at age 15 because being able to work without the usual child actor restrictions opened up more opportunities for her. Williams has made it clear that she had no problems with her parents, but that she and her parents agreed for Michelle to be emancipated in order to facilitate her career; however, she has also admitted that in retrospect, the decision might not have been in her best interests, as it meant that she was thrust into an adult world at 15 years old.

* While it's less common than the more volatile type -- and is often less visible when it ''does'' happen due to the lack of said volatility -- there have been some cases involving teens with significant careers (usually actors, athletes, and the like) where they and their parents agree to an amicable emancipation just because it's logistically easier for the person to manage their own career than for the parents to have to be involved with everything, as well as because it lifts some of the restrictions that usually apply to minors (such as requiring an adult chaperone/guardian for travel or stricter restrictions on working hours than exist for adult actors). For example, actress Michelle Williams (''Series/DawsonsCreek'') was emancipated at age 15 because not being subject to child actor restrictions would open up more opportunities for her. Williams has made it clear that she had no problems with her parents, but that she and her parents agreed for Michelle to be emancipated in order to facilitate her career; however, she has also admitted that in retrospect, the decision might not have been in her best interests, as it meant that she was thrust into an adult world at 15 years old.

* While it's less common than the more volatile type -- and is often less visible when it does happen due to the lack of said volatility -- there have been ''some'' cases involving teens with significant careers (usually actors, athletes, and the like) where they and their parents agree to an amicable emancipation just because it's logistically easier for the person to manage their own career than for the parents to have to be involved with everything, as well as because it lifts some of the restrictions that usually apply to minors (such as requiring an adult chaperone/guardian for travel or restrictions on working hours). For example, actress Michelle Williams was emancipated at age 15 so she could get more roles, as many of the rules applying to child actors had an exception if the minor was emancipated. Williams has made it clear that she had no problems with her parents, but that she and her parents agreed for Michelle to be emancipated in order to facilitate her career; however, she has admitted that the decision might not have been smart, as it meant that she was thrust into an adult world at 15 years old.

* While it's less common than the more volatile type -- and is often less visible when it does happen due to the lack of said volatility -- there have been ''some'' cases involving teens with significant careers (usually actors, athletes, and the like) where they and their parents agree to an amicable emancipation just because it's logistically easier for the person to manage their own career than for the parents to have to be involved with everything, as well as because it lifts some of the restrictions that usually apply to minors (such as requiring an adult chaperone/guardian for travel or restrictions on working hours). For example, actress Michelle Williams was emancipated at age 15 so she could take a role on ''Series/DawsonsCreek'', as they wouldn't normally hire minors due to the extra hoops they'd have to jump through (hence the series becoming the TropeNamer for DawsonCasting), but these restrictions didn't apply if the minor was emancipated. Williams has made it clear that she had no problems with her parents, but that she and her parents agreed for Michelle to be emancipated in order to facilitate her career.

* While it's less common than the more volatile type, there have been ''some'' cases involving teens with significant careers (usually actors, athletes, and the like) where they and their parents agree to an amicable emancipation just because it's logistically easier for the person to manage their own career than for the parents to have to be involved with everything, as well as because it lifts some of the restrictions that usually apply to minors (such as requiring an adult chaperone/guardian for travel or restrictions on working hours). For example, actress Michelle Williams was emancipated at age 15 so she could take a role on ''Series/DawsonsCreek'', as they wouldn't normally hire minors due to the extra hoops they'd have to jump through (hence the series becoming the TropeNamer for DawsonCasting), but these restrictions didn't apply if the minor was emancipated. Williams has made it clear that she had no problems with her parents, but that she and her parents agreed for Michelle to be emancipated in order to facilitate her career.

* While it's less common than the more volatile type, there have been ''some'' cases involving teens with significant careers (usually actors, athletes, and the like) where they and their parents agree to an amicable emancipation just because it's logistically easier for the person to manage their own career than for the parents to have to be involved with everything, as well as because it lifts some of the restrictions that usually apply to minors (such as requiring an adult chaperone/guardian for travel or restrictions on working hours). For example, the case of actress Michelle Williams, who was emancipated ahead of her role on ''Series/DawsonsCreek''; Williams has made it clear that she had no problems with her parents, but that she and her parents agreed for Michelle to be emancipated so that she would be able to work on the series without being subjected to the hours limitations that usually apply to child actors.

* While it's less common than the more volatile type, there have been ''some'' cases involving teens with significant careers (usually actors, athletes, and the like) where they and their parents agree to an amicable emancipation just because it's logistically easier for the person to manage their own career than for the parents to have to be involved with everything, as well as because it lifts some of the restrictions that usually apply to minors (such as requiring an adult chaperone/guardian for travel or restrictions on working hours). For example, the case of actress Michelle Williams, who was emancipated ahead of her role on ''Series/DawsonsCreek''; Williams has made it clear that she had no problems with her parents, but they and she agreed for Michelle to be emancipated so that she would be able to work on the series without being subjected to the hours limitations that usually apply to child actors.

* While it's less common, there have been ''some'' cases involving teens with significant careers (usually actors, athletes, and the like) where they and their parents agree to an amicable emancipation just because it's logistically easier for the person to manage their own career than for the parents to have to be involved with everything, as well as because it lifts some of the restrictions that usually apply to minors (such as requiring an adult chaperone/guardian for travel or restrictions on working hours). The most well-known case is that of actress Michelle Williams, who was emancipated ahead of her role on ''Series/DawsonsCreek'' so that she would be able to work on the series without being subjected to the hours limitations that usually apply to child actors.

* While it's less common, there have been ''some'' cases involving teens with significant careers (usually actors, athletes, and the like) where they and their parents agree to an amicable emancipation just because it's logistically easier for the person to manage their own career than for the parents to have to be involved with everything, as well as because it lifts some of the restrictions that usually apply to minors (such as requiring an adult chaperone or restrictions on working hours). The most well-known case is that of actress Michelle Williams, who was emancipated ahead of her role on ''Series/DawsonsCreek'' so that she would be able to work on the series without being subjected to the hours limitations that usually apply to child actors.

* While it's less common, there have been ''some'' cases involving teens with significant careers (usually actors, athletes, and the like) where they and their parents agree to an amicable emancipation just because it's logistically easier for the person to manage their own career than for the parents to have to be involved with everything, as well as because it lifts some of the restrictions that usually apply to minors (such as requiring an adult chaperone or restrictions on working hours). The most well-known case is that of actress Michelle Williams (Series/DawsonsCreek) was emancipated so that she would be able to work without the hours limitations that usually apply to child actors.

[[folder: Fan Works]]

* ''Literature/NemesisSeries'': Danny becomes an emancipated minor between the first and second book, as a result of her father's long history of ChildAbuse and her parents' attempts to get access to the money she earns as a superhero, combined with the fact that her identity was leaked.

->"I want to divorce my parents."
-->--'''Casey''', ''Film/IrreconcilableDifferences''

* In the ''Ravage'' book of the ''ComicBook/{{Marvel 2099}}'' line, it's mentioned that kids have legal rights over their parents, and are expected to receive certain benefits such as parents being polite to their friends. The main character Jean Paul-Philippe divorced his dad, but the two reconcile during the story.

* Creator/RobertAHeinlein's ''Literature/TheStarBeast''. Betty Sorenson, one of the main characters, divorced her parents for an unspecified reason. The court system takes "a dim view of the arbitrary use of parental authority", such as coercion in the choice of career. Mr. Kiku warns Mrs. Stuart that her son (who was still a minor) could divorce her if she tried to prevent him from going to another star system.
* One girl in ''Literature/{{Accelerando}}'' does this. Though technically, she doesn't emancipate herself as much as ''sell herself into slavery'' to a corporation which is ultimately owned by a trust fund of which she is the sole beneficiary. The net effect is to give her control over her own life at the age of ten.

* In Creator/KurtVonnegut's post-apocalyptic short story ''The Big Space Fuck'', children are given the right to sue their parents over absolutely everything, as a way to discourage breeding. The protagonist and his wife are presented with a court summons from their estranged daughter, who recently got arrested for bank robbery and needed to make it out that they'd ruined her life to avoid going to jail. They (and the sheriff presenting the summons) are promptly eaten by mutant lampreys instead.