TITLE 9. CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 55. SPECIAL ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS

ARTICLE 8. REMOVAL OF DISABILITIES OF A MINOR

SEC. 09.55.590. REMOVAL OF DISABILITIES OF MINORITY

Sec. 09.55.590. Removal of disabilities of minority

(a)  A minor who is a resident of this state and is at least 16 years of age, who is living separate and apart from the parents or guardian of the minor, capable of sustained self-support and of managing one's own financial affairs, or the legal custodian of such a minor, may petition the superior court to have the disabilities of minority removed for limited or general purposes.

(b)  A minor or the legal custodian of a minor may institute a petition under this section in the name of the minor.

(c)  The petition for removal of disabilities of minority must state

(1)  the name, age, and residence address of the minor;

(2)  the name and address of each living parent;

(3)  the name and address of the guardian of the person and the guardian of the estate, if any;

(4)  the reasons why removal would be in the best interest of the minor; and

(5)  the purposes for which removal is sought.

(d)  The person who institutes a petition under this section must obtain the consent of each living parent or guardian having control of the person or property of the minor. If the person who is to consent to the petition is unavailable or the whereabouts of that person are unknown, or if a parent or guardian unreasonably withholds consent, the court, acting in the best interest of the minor, may waive this requirement of consent as to that parent or guardian.

(e)  The court may appoint an attorney or a guardian ad litem to represent the interests of the minor at the hearing. Appointment of an attorney or guardian ad litem shall be made in accordance with AS 25.24.310.

(f)  If the petition under this section is filed by a minor, the court may remove the disabilities of minority as requested in the petition if the court finds on the record after a hearing that the minor is a resident of the state, at least 16 years of age, living separate and apart from the parent or guardian of the minor, and capable of sustained self-support and managing the minor's own financial affairs. If the petition under this section is filed by the legal custodian of a minor, the court may remove the disabilities of minority as requested in the petition only if the minor consents on the record to the removal of disabilities and the court, in addition to making the other findings required under this subsection for a petition filed by a minor, makes a finding on the record that there is interpersonal conflict involving the legal custodian and the minor that the custodian and the minor have been unable to resolve satisfactorily through other means; the finding must include a description of the efforts that were made by the legal custodian to resolve the interpersonal conflict before the custodian filed the petition under this section. If the court determines that removal of disabilities is in the best interests of the minor, the court may waive the requirement for the minor's consent that is otherwise imposed under this subsection. In making its decision under this subsection, the court may consider whether a noncustodial parent of the minor is able and willing to petition for custody of the minor.

(g)  Except for specific constitutional and statutory age requirements for voting and use of alcoholic beverages, a minor whose disabilities are removed for general purposes has the power and capacity of an adult, including but not limited to the right to self-control, the right to be domiciled where one desires, the right to receive and control one's earnings, to sue or to be sued, and the capacity to contract.