History Main / EmancipatedChild

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* Naturally, ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' has used this as a plot. Bart, finally tired of Homers crappy parenting and neglect, gets himself emancipated, with his income coming from Homers garnished wages intended to pay back money he stole from Barts 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.

* Naturally, ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' has used this as a plot. Bart, finally tired of Homers crappy parenting and neglect, gets himself emancipated, with his income coming from Homers garnished wages intended to pay back money he stole from Barts brief career acting in commercials as a baby. The judge even says she would never emancipate a ten years old except in this of blatant abuse and neglect she'll allow it.

This is technically allowed under most legal systems, but it's a lot harder than TV will imply. Most courts will only allow it under two circumstances: one, for married minors (and yes, [[MarriageOfConvenience teenagers do marry to get away from their parents]]), and two, for adolescents where there are truly no other good options and who have attained self-sufficiency (meaning that they are capable of supporting themselves for the foreseeable future and are not likely to go on welfare).

Allowed in under most legal systems, although generally only for adolescents who truly have no other viable options have achieved self-sufficiency (meaning that they can currently support themselves through legal means and will be able to for the foreseeable future and are unlikely to apply for welfare).

Allowed in under most legal systems, although generally only for adolescents who have achieved self-sufficiency.

* Naturally, ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' has used this as a plot. Bart, finally tired of Homers crappy parenting and neglect, gets himself emancipated, with his income coming from Homers garnished wages intended to pay back money he stole from Barts brief career acting in commercials as a baby.

* In the ''Ravage'' book of the {{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.

* The 1984 film ''{{Irreconcilable Differences}}'' is all about this. Drew Barrymore plays a child who actually says, "I want to divorce my parents."

* A VictimOfTheWeek in ''LawAndOrder'' is a pop star, 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.

* The 1984 film ''Irreconcilable Differences'' is all about this. Drew Barrymore plays a child who actually says, "I want to divorce my parents."

* ''{{North}}'' divorces his parents and [[WalkingTheEarth goes out into the world]] to find new ones.

* One girl in ''{{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 ''LittleElvisJonesAndTheTruckstoppers'' there is an episode where all the children in the town take their parents to court. Interestingly, its played slightly (emphasis on slightly) more realistic in that the big bad of the series encourages them and supports their case in order to get custody of Lil Elvis.

* Angelica "divorced" her parents in an episode of ''{{Rugrats}}'', but it was AllJustADream.

* Reece did this in an episode of ''MalcolmInTheMiddle''.

* In ''{{Roswell}}'', this is how Michael gets away from his Abusive Foster dad in season 1.

* Jenny sought to do this in ''GossipGirl'' but in the end decided not to go through with it.

* Naturally, ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' has used this as a plot.

* Creator/RobertAHeinlein's ''The Star Beast''. 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 ''Series/RedDwarf'' we find out that Rimmer divorced his parents at 14, but retained visitation rights to the family dog.

* In Lil Elvis and the Truckstoppers there is an episode where all the children in the town take their parents to court. Interestingly, its played slightly (emphasis on slightly) more realistic in that the big bad of the series encourages them and supports their case in order to get custody of Lil Elvis.

It's a dream many children have had from time to time, the idea that they could take their parents to court and "Divorce" them. Then, free from the tyranny of bedtimes and green vegetables they would be able to live their lives properly and have all that fun their parents have been denying them! So they go find a law firm willing to take their case and after the court proceedings the child is an independent entity, with no ties to former family. There have been a few cases of this in RealLife, although they never end up as a free agent as they often do in fiction, instead becoming wards of the state.

* RobertHeinlein's ''The Star Beast''. 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 ''{{Accelerando}}'' does this, using a quite complicated scheme.

* In ''RedDwarf'' we find out that Rimmer divorced his parents at 14, but retained visitation rights to the family dog.

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* Subverted in an episode of ''{{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 ''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.

* Naturally, ''TheSimpsons'' has used this as a plot.

* Steve Smith divorces his parents in the season 2 ''AmericanDad'' episode, Star Trek.

* The ''{{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.