legal ramifications for parents of unemacipated minor

[otters]

I am the step parent of a minot (17) who her father and I are considering emancipating as we cannot live with her. We are more than willing to provide some measure of financial support for her. My question is legally what are we responsible for? And also can we be held liable for trouble she may or may not get into.

We are in the state of California and any help would be most appreciated.

In addition, can we pursue emancipating her legally? Or is that somethign which she would have to instigate?

 

[deefran]

In most states to have a minor emancipated you have to prove a few things, one of them being that he/she can support themselves without aid from their parents. If the state does not see a decent income that would A.provide her a place to live B. provide her with food C. and also provide her with enough income to cover utilities. If you pay any of that for her now, then no she won't be emancipated because they don't want her living off the state. Once a minor is emancipated the parents are not responsible for their bills, nor would they be responsible for legal problems. Emancipation means they are considered an adult in the eyes of the courts. Why not wait another year? She'll be 18 and therefore emancipated without all the court costs and hassle. To be perfectly honest, you can not do anything as you are a stepparent and can not begin any litigation into emancipating her. It is up to her father and her.

 

[otters]

I certainly understand that I as a steparent can do nothing, however her father is interested in this idea.

Waiting another year will be very difficult for all of us. This is a child who dominates our lives and causes chaos regularly. We are all under (father, her sister and myself) a great deal of duress due to this childs behaviours.

If she is unemancipated can we move her out and into her own apartment, we certainly would cover that financially? Also, ifd she is unemancipated are we legally liable for her actions?

In other words is there anything we can do to not have her live here and also not be legally responsible for any and all trouble she might get into?