“Emancipation” is a legal term in the area of family law that most people probably don’t have much experience with. Unlike divorce, child support or child custody issues, for example, emancipation just isn’t as common of a legal question for most Indiana residents. However, for those who are paying child support for children who are getting older, emancipation may become a very crucial part of their legal needs.
“Emancipation” basics
So, for starters, what does “emancipation” mean? Essentially, it denotes the transition of a child to adult status in the eyes of the law – when a child or “minor” is granted the same or mostly the same rights as an adult. Why might this be important for families in Indiana? Well, if a child becomes emancipated, anyone who is paying child support for that child might not be required to do so any longer.
As always, there are minimum legal requirements for emancipation – and nuances to understand as well. First and foremost, a child is not considered to be automatically emancipated until the age of 19.
But, for someone who is paying child support for an older child and wants to explore putting an end to the child support order, some other circumstances may lead to a court coming to a determination that a child is emancipated prior to the age of 19.
For example, if the child is married or is a member of the military, that child might be emancipated. Or, if it can be proven that the child is no longer under the care and control of either parent, that may lead to a finding of emancipation as well.
Working through the requirements and details concerning emancipation can be difficult. If you believe emancipation may be something that can help your family law situation, be sure to get the right information about emancipation in Indiana.
