Until a child is 18 years old, he or she is considered a minor and is therefore under the control of either his or her parents or legal guardian(s).
In some cases the child can speed up the process of becoming an adult by petitioning for emancipation as early as age 16 in many states across the nation.
Emancipation of minors is a court-mandated decision that frees a minor from the control of his or her parents as well as frees the parents from responsibilities toward the minor.
A minor must first petition a judge to be considered for emancipation and in most cases has to give his or her name, age, residency, reasons for emancipation, and detailed plan on how he or she can financially support him or herself.
Minors may also be able to emancipate themselves through marriage, getting an educational degree, joining the military, or becoming financially self-sufficient.
Requirements for Petition There are different emancipation guidelines in every state, but in the state of Texas, in order to pursue emancipation you must be 17 years of age or 16 years of age and financially independent.
In the petition, the minor must state the following:

• Name, age, and residency
• Name and residency for each living parent or guardian(s)
• The name and place of residence of the managing conservator
• Reasons for why the emancipation is the best course of action for the minor
• The purpose of the request

If the petition is approved, he or she will be a recognized adult and therefore will be legally responsible for all civil matters of someone who is 18 years of age or older.