Q: Can a be emancipated if she has a job/ a place to live in New Jersey without parental approval?

A: I am a parent and cannot imagine what is going through your head to be 14 years old and want to be emancipated but I can promise you that being emancipated will not be easier than your current setting. As a 14 year old, im sure that your parents are on your case and telling you what you need to do, etc and its annoying. When I was 14 years old, everything that my parents told me to do or expected of me was annoying as well and back to the days of the caveman and cave woman, parents have always been annoying. There is even a cave drawing of a cave teenager, wanting to run away from home or go live with another cave family because of the chore responsibilities imposed .... but I digress.

I promise you that I am not making fun of you. Simply trying to point out that growing up is not easy and dealing with responsibilities imposed the source of most family fights but having to work to pay for the cost of an apartment, healthcare costs, transportation, etc can and will be a worse setting.

For whatever its worth, if you want to be seen as mature, sit down and write up a contract with your parents as to expectations for you and what you want in return. I always told my sons that I dont expect them to be perfect and acknowledge that they will make mistakes but that I expect them to take ownership of their mistakes, be honest with me ( even if I dont like what I hear) and show me good faith in handling responsibilities.

Good luck