Marriage at 17, solely for emancipation purposes. Crazy idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Again, the marriage idea was only for a paper marriage until she’s 18. That would allow her to stay with her mother, and not have to go to her father’s house. It’s perfectly legal, as long as she isn’t doing it for someone who needs a green card. Obviously, we wouldn’t do that.

We’re working on other ways to help her. She’s not being terribly cooperative, and we are all doing our best. This is a very difficult situation for everyone.

If she’s not being cooperative, maybe she perceives the situation differently than you do.

She’s resisting talking to an attorney or police, not the marriage idea.

why is she resisting talking to an attorney? talk does not obligate her to do anything.

She’s enjoying her freedom. I suspect after CPS came in, documented, and did nothing, she is also skeptical that the system will be able to help her.

I’m hopeful we can get some legal advice soon, and find some sort of plan. We are working on it, but I’d prefer not to go into details here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The teen ran away rather than deal with her father showing up with the police. He claims he may be open to changing the arrangement, but not in any way that is legally binding.

I get the sense that most of you have no experience with custody cases for older kids. In that state, kids are generally discouraged from testifying. The legal assumption in that state is that the act of testifying is traumatic for a child, and it is used sparingly. Instead, experts are hired to speak for them. No one can afford this. Even if one of us could afford it, it would take a few months to get before a judge. She will be 18 in a few more months. The money and effort would all be for nothing.

I don’t think a protective order would be granted. The law requires an imminent threat, and he has not met the outlined requirements. If he threatens her or prevents her from calling the police, she can move forward with one.

Again, the marriage question was if it was a crazy idea. No one has a set plan for this, or a potential spouse picked out. It was an idea, as the title of this thread clearly indicated.

Which state?

I’m very experience with an older child testifying. It’s usually the younger kids they discourage.

State of Trollandia

[Anonymous]

God, NO! What if she gets pregnant?! This is jumping from frying pan into fire. At 17 isn't she able to declare herself an emancipated minor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God, NO! What if she gets pregnant?! This is jumping from frying pan into fire. At 17 isn't she able to declare herself an emancipated minor?

Not unless she is self-supporting, married, or ironically pregnant on public assistance.

[Anonymous]

If she gets married now it won't be long before she is on public assistance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God, NO! What if she gets pregnant?! This is jumping from frying pan into fire. At 17 isn't she able to declare herself an emancipated minor?

I will say it again: she would continue to live with her mother. Pregnancy would be a way to be emancipated, but that is a bad plan.

She can’t be emancipated in her state without proof that she is financially independent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God, NO! What if she gets pregnant?! This is jumping from frying pan into fire. At 17 isn't she able to declare herself an emancipated minor?

I will say it again: she would continue to live with her mother. Pregnancy would be a way to be emancipated, but that is a bad plan.

She can’t be emancipated in her state without proof that she is financially independent.

Your plan is also a bad plan. Even a paper marriage ties you to someone in many legal ways. Financially, medically. I’ve been divorced about 14 years and my name still comes up if you do one of those background check searches for my XH. He’s a criminal so it really sucks having our names connected. I never took his name in marriage, but I am still reported as XW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God, NO! What if she gets pregnant?! This is jumping from frying pan into fire. At 17 isn't she able to declare herself an emancipated minor?

I will say it again: she would continue to live with her mother. Pregnancy would be a way to be emancipated, but that is a bad plan.

She can’t be emancipated in her state without proof that she is financially independent.

An emancipation proceeding takes time. You said almost a month ago she was only a few months from 18, so she’ll probably be 18 before any emancipation process would be complete.