What does emancipation refer to?

Emancipation refers specifically to the legal process by which a minor is freed from parental control and is granted the rights and responsibilities of an adult. This process allows the individual to make decisions regarding their own life without the consent or interference of their parents or guardians.

While achieving legal adulthood often encompasses emancipation, it specifically highlights the release from parental authority, which may occur before reaching the age of majority. As such, emancipation often allows minors to engage in contracts, manage earnings, and make decisions regarding their education and living situation.

The other concepts, such as gaining the right to vote, obtaining financial independence, or simply reaching legal adulthood, do not fully capture the essence of emancipation, which is focused on the relationship between a minor and their parents or guardians.