Emancipation is a legal procedure by which the court frees children from the custody and control of their parents or guardians before they reach the age of 18.
A child may petition the Superior Court of the county in which the child lives permanently or temporarily. In San Diego County, all emancipation petitions are heard in Juvenile Court.
For more information about emancipation, please refer to the following on the Judicial Council website:
Forms
Emancipation packets (forms and procedure) may be obtained from any Juvenile Court location. There is a $3.00 fee for the packet. Forms also may be downloaded from the Judicial Council website:
A written declaration by the minor must be attached to the Petition for Declaration of Emancipation of Minor form. The declaration must state why the minor should be emancipated.
Completed paperwork must be submitted in person to one of the following locations (where the case will be heard):
| For Central, East County, and South County residents | For North County residents |
| Juvenile Central 2851 Meadow Lark Drive San Diego, CA 92123 |
North County Courthouse 325 South Melrose Drive Vista, CA 92081 |
Fees
The filing fee of $435.00 must be paid at the time of filing. If you are unable to pay to the filing fee, you may qualify for a fee waiver. The California Courts website has additional information on requesting a fee waiver.
Requirements
Refer to the Judicial Council Emancipation Self-Help Center for information on what the state requires for a child to be emancipted.