State

Any minor who has reached his sixteenth birthday and is residing in this state, or any parent or guardian of such minor, may petition the superior court for juvenile matters or the probate court for the district in which either the minor or his parents or guardian resides for a determination that the minor named in the petition be emancipated. The petition shall be verified and shall state plainly: (1) The facts which bring the minor within the jurisdiction of the court, (2) the name, date of birth, sex and residence of the minor, (3) the name and residence of his parent, parents or guardian, and (4) the name of the petitioner and his relationship to the minor. Upon the filing of the petition in the Superior Court, the court shall cause a summons to be issued to the minor and his parent, parents or guardian, in the manner provided in section 46b-128. Upon the filing of the petition in the Probate Court, the court shall assign a time, not later than thirty days thereafter, and a place for hearing such petition. The court shall cause a citation and notice to be served on the minor and his parent, if the parent is not the petitioner, at least seven days prior to the hearing date, by a state marshal, constable or indifferent person. The court shall direct notice by certified mail to the parent, if the parent is the petitioner. The court shall order such notice as it directs to the Commissioner of Children and Families, and other persons having an interest in the minor.

Any minor who has reached his [A> OR HER <A] sixteenth birthday and is residing in this state, or any parent or guardian of such minor, may petition the superior court for juvenile matters or the probate court for the district in which either the minor or [D> his <D] [A> SUCH MINOR'S <A] parents or guardian resides for a determination that the minor named in the petition be emancipated. The petition shall be verified and shall state plainly: (1) The facts which bring the minor within the jurisdiction of the court, (2) the name, date of birth, sex and residence of the minor, (3) the name and residence of [D> his <D] [A> SUCH MINOR'S <A] parent, parents or guardian, and (4) the name of the petitioner and [D> his <D] [A> THE PETITIONER'S <A] relationship to the minor. Upon the filing of the petition in the Superior Court, the court shall cause a summons to be issued to the minor and [D> his <D] [A> SUCH MINOR'S <A] parent, parents or guardian, in the manner provided in section 46b-128. Upon the filing of the petition in the Probate Court, the court shall assign a time, not later than thirty days thereafter, and a place for hearing such petition. The court shall cause a citation and notice to be served on the minor and [D> his <D] [A> THE MINOR'S <A] parent, if the parent is not the petitioner, at least seven days prior to the hearing date, by a state marshal, constable or indifferent person. The court shall direct notice by certified mail to the parent, if the parent is the petitioner. The court shall order such notice as it directs to the Commissioner of Children and Families, and other persons having an interest in the minor.

(a) With respect to a petition filed in Superior Court pursuant to section 46b-150, the Superior Court may, if it deems it appropriate, (1) require a probation officer, the Commissioner of Children and Families or any other person to investigate the allegations in the petition and file a report of that investigation with the court, (2) appoint counsel for the minor who may serve as guardian ad litem for the minor, (3) appoint counsel for the minor's parents or guardian, or (4) make any other orders regarding the matter which the court deems appropriate.

(b) With respect to a petition filed in Probate Court pursuant to section 46b-150, the Probate Court shall request an investigation by the Commissioner of Children and Families, unless this requirement is waived by 2the court for cause shown. The court shall appoint counsel to represent the minor. The costs of such counsel shall be paid by the minor, except that if such minor is unable to pay for such counsel and files an affidavit with the court demonstrating inability of the minor to pay, the reasonable compensation shall be established by, and paid from funds appropriated to, the Judicial Department. If funds have not been included in the budget of the Judicial Department for such purposes, such compensation shall be established by the Probate Court Administrator and paid from the Probate Court Administration Fund.

(c) Upon finding at the hearing or any time during the pendency of the proceeding in the Probate Court, that reasonable cause exists to warrant an examination, the court on its own motion or on motion of any party, may order the minor to be examined at a suitable place by a physician, psychiatrist or licensed psychologist appointed by the court. The court may also order examination of a parent whose competency or ability to care for a minor before the court is at issue. The expenses of any examination if ordered by the court on its own motion shall be paid for by the petitioner or if ordered on motion by a party, shall be paid for by the party moving for such an examination, unless such party or petitioner is unable to pay such expenses in which case they shall be paid for by funds appropriated to the Judicial Department. However, in the case of a probate matter, if funds have not been included in the budget of the Judicial Department for such purposes, such expenses shall be established by the Probate Court Administrator and paid from the Probate Court Administration Fund. The court may consider the results of the examinations in ruling on the merits of the petition.

If the Superior Court or the Probate Court, after hearing, finds that: (1) The minor has entered into a valid marriage, whether or not that marriage has been terminated by dissolution; or (2) the minor is on active duty with any of the armed forces of the United States of America; or (3) the minor willingly lives separate and apart from his parents or guardian, with or without the consent of the parents or guardian, and that the minor is managing his own financial affairs, regardless of the source of any lawful income; or (4) for good cause shown, it is in the best interest of the minor, any child of the minor or the parents or guardian of the minor, the court may enter an order declaring that the minor is emancipated.

Any person named in a petition filed pursuant to section 46b-150a who is aggrieved by the order of the Probate Court may appeal to the Superior Court as provided in section 45a-186. Any person named in a petition filed pursuant to section 46b-150a who is aggrieved by order of the Superior Court may appeal to the Appellate Court in the manner provided in subsection (b) of section 46b-142.

An order that a minor is emancipated shall have the following effects: (a) The minor may consent to medical, dental or psychiatric care, without parental consent, knowledge or liability; (b) the minor may enter into a binding contract; (c) the minor may sue and be sued in his own name; (d) the minor shall be entitled to his own earnings and shall be free of control by his parents or guardian; (e) the minor may establish his own residence; (f) the minor may buy and sell real and personal property; (g) the minor may not thereafter be the subject of a petition under section 46b-120 as an abused, dependent, neglected or uncared for child or youth; (h) the minor may enroll in any school or college, without parental consent; (i) the minor shall be deemed to be over eighteen years of age for purposes of securing an operator's license under section 14-36 and a marriage license under subsection (b) of section 46b-30 without parental consent; (j) the minor shall be deemed to be over eighteen years of age for purposes of registering a motor vehicle under section 14-12; (k) the parents of the minor shall no longer be the guardians of the minor under section 45a-606; (l) the parents of a minor shall be relieved of any obligations respecting his school attendance under section 10-184; (m) the parents shall be relieved of all obligation to support the minor; (n) the minor shall be emancipated for the purposes of parental liability for his acts under section 52-572; (o) the minor may execute releases in his own name under section 14-118; and (p) the minor may enlist in the armed forces of the United States without parental consent.