What is the term for when a minor is freed from parental control but has not yet reached the age of maturity?

The term "emancipation" specifically refers to the legal process through which a minor is granted freedom from parental control and is recognized as an independent legal entity capable of making certain decisions on their own. In the context of the law, emancipation allows minors to assume responsibilities and rights typically held by adults, even though they have not yet reached the age of majority or maturity, which is often set at 18 years in many jurisdictions.

This distinction is crucial because emancipation does not equate to adulthood; rather, it provides the minor with certain rights and responsibilities earlier than they would typically receive them at the age of majority. This legal status might grant the minor the ability to enter contracts, make healthcare decisions, or live independently of their parents.

Other terms such as independence, freedom, and adulthood do not specifically address the legal framework surrounding minors and parental control. Independence and freedom can describe a more general state of personal autonomy that does not necessarily involve the legal recognition required by emancipation, while adulthood specifically refers to reaching the established age of maturity, which does not apply until the individual is 18 or older in most cases. Therefore, emancipation is the correct term that encapsulates the legal change in status for a minor who is no longer under