A child of an age to be classed as a minor (generally under 18) but who has become free of parental control and custody. Minors who leave home, join the military, or otherwise assume legal responsibility for themselves and show their full independence from parental support may legally be declared emancipated by a court; those who marry or who have a court-supervised legal agreement with their parents may be emancipated without court order, though in some states they will require a court order or their parents’ consent to the marriage. Once emancipated, minors have all the legal rights and responsibilities of an adult, including the ability to sign a contract or make a will. In some circumstances, how-ever, parents may still have child-support responsibilities unless these are formally canceled by the court.
A person not of legal age who is in the armed services, married, the mother of a child whether married or not, or has left home and is self-sufficient. Some state legislatures do not require such an individual to have parental consent to receive medical or surgical care, or advice on contraception or abortion.