emancipation help

[ziia]

emancipation/independence help

What is the name of your state? Florida

I had been living with my parents and in an emotional and occasionally physically abusive relationship for 18 years. I began attending the University of Florida this past fall. I am finacially supporting myself, my parents have not even contributed a penny. Right now the only job I hold is working in a grocery store making 8.25 an hour during my school breaks when I return home. I plan to find another job, full time, in Gainesville asap. The problem is, I feel that I am such a burden on my parents whenever I return. I would like financial independence from them since I practically am that way now. Whenever I come home we butt heads frequently and they infringe on my freedoms. I currently pay expensive car insurance on a car that sits in the driveway back home, while in Gainesville I have no transportation. You would think when I came home they would let me drive the vehicle, but they do not. My dad told me tonight that I might as well take a taxi back to Gainesville, and marry my boyfriend because I thought his family treated me well. That he would not talk to me after I turned 21, and not to call him, he would call me. I am fed up of living like this. I am fed up of being overcontroled, not trusted, and emotionally demeaned. One major reason I want emancipation is so I do not have to return to this house during my summer and other school breaks. I would like to be able to buy a car so I can get a job off campus and further my independence. My relationship with my parents is not emotionally healthy and I need to get out, as I have wanted to as long as I can remember.
If anyone thinks I have a good case and it sounds plausible that I could get independence, I would appreciate any advice as well as the steps I need to take to get the ball rolling on this ordeal. (whether I need to have a permanent residence not a dorm, a full time job, my parents signatures...etc) Another question I have is will my FASFA be affected since a major part of the form is parental information, will I still be able to get loans?
Thanks

 

[Gracie3787]

What is the name of your state? Florida

I had been living with my parents and in an emotional and occasionally physically abusive relationship for 18 years. I began attending the University of Florida this past fall. I am finacially supporting myself, my parents have not even contributed a penny. Right now the only job I hold is working in a grocery store making 8.25 an hour during my school breaks when I return home. I plan to find another job, full time, in Gainesville asap. The problem is, I feel that I am such a burden on my parents whenever I return. I would like financial independence from them since I practically am that way now. Whenever I come home we butt heads frequently and they infringe on my freedoms. I currently pay expensive car insurance on a car that sits in the driveway back home, while in Gainesville I have no transportation. You would think when I came home they would let me drive the vehicle, but they do not. My dad told me tonight that I might as well take a taxi back to Gainesville, and marry my boyfriend because I thought his family treated me well. That he would not talk to me after I turned 21, and not to call him, he would call me. I am fed up of living like this. I am fed up of being overcontroled, not trusted, and emotionally demeaned. One major reason I want emancipation is so I do not have to return to this house during my summer and other school breaks. I would like to be able to buy a car so I can get a job off campus and further my independence. My relationship with my parents is not emotionally healthy and I need to get out, as I have wanted to as long as I can remember.
If anyone thinks I have a good case and it sounds plausible that I could get independence, I would appreciate any advice as well as the steps I need to take to get the ball rolling on this ordeal. (whether I need to have a permanent residence not a dorm, a full time job, my parents signatures...etc) Another question I have is will my FASFA be affected since a major part of the form is parental information, will I still be able to get loans?
Thanks

Are you 18 years old? If you are, you are already a legal emancipated adult according to the Florida laws.

My advice:
Do not stay at your parents' home on school breaks.

Is your car in your name? IF it is, and you don't owe your parents any money on it, you can just drive your car away.
IF it is in their names, you should have them put it into your name, if you don't do that you should at least inform them that since you are not allowed to drive "their" car that you will no longer be paying the premiums to insure "their" car.

However, keep in mind that you will be totally responsible for yourself, including all your expenses. You can check at the college to see what loans and or grants are available.
Good luck

 

[LdiJ]

I agree with Gracie 100%. However I will add that you may also have some difficulty with student loans and may need to do some research. Its been a while so I don't know if the rules have changed...however in the past you had to live apart from your parents for a full year before you could get financial aid without including their income information.

 

[sugarj]

I think that Ldj is right about the year. It's been a little over a year since i filed my last FAFSA. Something to consider though, go by your financial aid office and see if they will allow extenuating circumstances to be a factor in determing financial aid. I think that in order to be considered an independant student you have to be over 23 or a ward of the state or emancipated. However, some colleges have other criteria, in addition to the federal standard, when determining aid. I say this only because that is what my college financial aid advisor told me.

 

[huntersmommy06]

I agree with Gracie 100%. However I will add that you may also have some difficulty with student loans and may need to do some research. Its been a while so I don't know if the rules have changed...however in the past you had to live apart from your parents for a full year before you could get financial aid without including their income information.

Yes, the poster would need to be either 23 years of age, married or have dependents of her/his own to be able to apply for financial aid/student loans without the parents information. Please see your financial aid advisor in student services to see if there are any exceptions to this rule.

 

[ziia]

thanks everyone

Im a little confused because my parents say they are legally responsible for any of my expenses till i'm 23, yet I am considered under FL law emancipated because I am 18?

I think that in order to be considered an independant student you have to be over 23 or a ward of the state or emancipated. However, some colleges have other criteria, in addition to the federal standard, when determining aid.

If I am not mistaken I cannot buy a car without their signatures, since the car I pay to insure is in their name (even tho it was given to me as a gift from my grandfather before he died). Maybe I have the idea of emancipation mixed up with not being a dependent. So nothing really changes, is my interpretation, at least not for a year when I go to apply for Fasfa without their information, unless I choose not to apply for Fasfa and get loans from alternate sources.


FYI: I currently pay for everything, except for the cell phone bill b/c I share a plan w/ my mother and am not allowed to use the minutes during peak time.

 

[ENASNI]

jeesh

ziia~~FYI: I currently pay for everything, except for the cell phone bill b/c I share a plan w/ my mother and am not allowed to use the minutes during peak time.
Who is???

About the ins... if you do not persue the keeping of the car and do not plan on driving it. Cancel that expensive insurance... You will need that money..
just don't drive it... and inform whomever it is uninsured.

good luck.

 

[LdiJ]

Im a little confused because my parents say they are legally responsible for any of my expenses till i'm 23, yet I am considered under FL law emancipated because I am 18?
If I am not mistaken I cannot buy a car without their signatures, since the car I pay to insure is in their name (even tho it was given to me as a gift from my grandfather before he died). Maybe I have the idea of emancipation mixed up with not being a dependent. So nothing really changes, is my interpretation, at least not for a year when I go to apply for Fasfa without their information, unless I choose not to apply for Fasfa and get loans from alternate sources.


FYI: I currently pay for everything, except for the cell phone bill b/c I share a plan w/ my mother and am not allowed to use the minutes during peak time.

If you are over 18 you do not need their signatures to buy a car. However, that doesn't mean that a car dealer will give you credit without a co-signer...it simply means that LEGALLY you don't need their permission to buy a car...or register that car, or insure that car. YOU ARE A LEGAL ADULT. Its sad that they have basically stolen the car that your grandfather gave you....but there is little that you can do about that now because its in their names.

No, they aren't legally responsible for your expenses either. Nor can they claim you on their tax return if you are supporting yourself. However since you are a full time student they CAN claim you if you are NOT supporting yourself...until you are 23 (as long as you remain a full time student)

As far as the cell phone is concerned...you can use whatever minutes you like, peak or non peak...the only way that they can stop you using peak minutes is to shut off your phone.

The bottom line is that you are a legal adult and they have absolutely no control over you whatsoever....EXCEPT whatever economic control that you CHOOSE to allow them to have.

So, if you feel that you are ready to be independent. Then cancel the car insurance (or stop paying it)...give up the cell phone that they are paying and get one of your own. Get a full time job to support yourself and perhaps deal with going to school part time until you get yourself established.

The bottom line is that you are in 100% control of your life from this point on. Yes, you may have to make some sacrifices to assert your control...but you don't need to take any court action to do so. However as long as you expect them to contribute to your support...even in small ways...then they have the right to put conditions on that.

 

[huntersmommy06]

Im a little confused because my parents say they are legally responsible for any of my expenses till i'm 23, yet I am considered under FL law emancipated because I am 18?
If I am not mistaken I cannot buy a car without their signatures, since the car I pay to insure is in their name (even tho it was given to me as a gift from my grandfather before he died). Maybe I have the idea of emancipation mixed up with not being a dependent. So nothing really changes, is my interpretation, at least not for a year when I go to apply for Fasfa without their information, unless I choose not to apply for Fasfa and get loans from alternate sources.


Your parents are referring to your financial aid when they say they are legally responsible for your expenses (that is correct in regards to your FAFSA). Other than that, you ARE a legal adult and can make decisions as an adult.

If you do apply for other student loans and disregard the federal aid, it could be VERY costly for you in the future 6 months after you graduate. If you do go that route, I suggest to start by building your credit. Apply for a gas card or a low limit Mastercard http://www.mastercard.com (they offer a special card for students). Make sure you pay at least your minumum payment ON TIME. This will help you apply for loans (for a car, student loans, etc...)once a good rating has been established. Also, apply for any and all scholarship programs that you could be eligible for.