Can she get emancipated?

A friend of mine is 17. She was the youngest in her grade, and she graduated from high school a year early, so she is about to start her sophomore year in college. She lives with her parents, who are incredibly strict with her because of their religious and cultural beliefs. To give you an idea of how strict they are: she got a pretty low grade in one class freshman year in college because she was not allowed to go to meetings for a group project at the school's library. She has been attending a community college because her parents won't let her do anything else. She turns 18 in December, but her parents are telling her they still won't let her move out to come to a state school that I attend. Her parents also said that if she moves out to go to college, they will not pay any amount of money for her education. However, their income would still need to be on her FAFSA (fin aid form) so she wouldn't get any financial aid. Can she be emancipated? And would she need a lawyer?

well, if her parents' income is listed on her financial aid forms, she wont receive any money for school AND they are refusing to pay for it. if she gets emancipated, i think she could just put her own income.

http://topics.law.cornell.edu/wex/table_...
I hope this helps

Depending on the state, at 17, and the facts you have stated, she may not have to much problem. Have her contact the county court house for the procedure. She should also contact a lawyer on this issue.

I think she will have to wait till she is 18.
When she is 18 she can do whatever she wants tho, and her parents will realize that when she moves out.

it would take almost to December to get to court.

Just wait until December and she can make her own decisions and pay her own way.

Once she is 18, her parents cannot do a thing about it... even though they will try.

As far as the FAFSA goes, I can't really help you... sorry!! :(

When she's 18...she can just leave, but that would be stupid. Why not just let her parents pay for it? If she can't pay for school...what's she going to do?

Yes, when she turns 18 she can move out and go whereever she wants...but will still be considered "dependent" for federal financial aid purposes. She could still qualify for non-need-based aid, i.e. scholarships. As for becoming independent for financial aid purposes, she would have to be 25, married and/or have a dependent child, or be a member/veteran of the armed forces.

She should still fill out the FAFSA though...she may not qualify for Pell grants, but she could still qualify for student loans. It's worth a try. Also go meet with the financial aid counselor at the school and see if they have any ideas.

My suggestion for her would be to complete as many credits as possible at the community college (it's waaaaaay cheaper!) and work work work in the meantime to save money, then transfer after a year or two. Even then, if she doesnm't qualify for enough in student loans/work study to get by, she'll probably have to go to school part time and work full time to pay the bills. It sucks, yes, but LOTS of people do it.

Good luck to you both! :-)