To qualify for emancipation in Virginia, a minor child should be at least 16 years old. They can make their appeal by filing with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in the administrative district where they or their parents live. The court will notify the parents who then become respondents in the emancipation procedure.
A request for emancipation must include the minor’s gender. In the case of parents or guardians as Petitioners, the request should contain their names and their relationship to the minor.
The court will then assign a guardian ad litem, a specially trained and certified lawyer approved and appointed by the court to legally represent the minor child. The Department of Welfare or the Department of Social Services may also be required to look into any accusations included in the petition.