10 Celebrities Who Were Emancipated From Their Parents

April 2024 · 5 minute read

Aaron Carter performs on Nick.com

During their teenage years, most people tend to have rocky relationships with their parents.  However, most people can get through those years without having to seek legal counsel.  But for young celebrities, who have much more at stake than the average person, their relationships with their parents are often seen as nothing more than a business deal – and many feel that they must ditch their parents in order to find success.  As a result, there are many celebrities who have fought to be legally emancipated from their parents.  Whether it be to avoid child labor laws, or to simply fire a parent who has been stealing money, these celebrities are no joke.  Here are 10 celebrities who were emancipated from their parents.

Alicia Silverstone

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 8: (US TABS AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Actress Alicia Silverstone attends the gala dinner dance following the New York City Ballet Gala at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on October 8, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)

Best-known for her role as Cher in Clueless, Alicia Silverstone was all about making money. At 15 years-old Silverstone became an emancipated minor so that she would work more hours and not be restricted by child labor laws. This decision may seem a little over the top, but it’s actually kind of smart when you think about it from a business perspective.

(Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore’s relationship with her parents has never been a secret.  Throughout her life, things have always been turbulent and Barrymore and her mother are still struggling to have a healthy relationship.  At 15 years-old, Barrymore became an emancipated minor stating: ” did what I had to do to get [emancipated], which was play by the rules and re-figure out my life and disconnect myself from the people I knew and the lifestyle I knew and prove that I was a responsible citizen with a good head on my shoulders.”

 (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Juliette Lewis

"August: Osage County" New York Premiere - Red Carpet

Juliette Lewis was another star who decided to get emancipated in order to work longer days.  In fact, her parents even helped her with the process. During an interview, Lewis stated: “I know that sounds all radical, but when you start acting when you’re younger, you talk to other actor kids and their moms, and they’re like, ‘Yeah, if you want to get a job, they like on your resume to say emancipated minor versus minor, because you then can work over eight hours.”

(Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

Jaime Pressly

Premiere Of Open Road Films' "The Nut Job" - Arrivals

Like most young stars, Jaime Pressly was very independant at an early age, and she refused to let anyone or anything hold her back. When she was 15, she became emancipated so that she could take a trip to Japan when her parents were unable to attend.

(Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)

Oz: The Great And Powerful - UK Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

Michelle Williams

Like many other stars, Michelle Williams has been in the industry since she was young.  Even at the beginning of her career, she was already focused on the future and thinking of ways to make sure she’d be successful. At the age of 15, Williams emancipated herself from her parents in order to work for more hours. In 2011, she revealed that she made this choice as a result of being influenced by the other young stars who came before her.

(Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Courtney Love 

American Idol Finale: Results Show

Frances Bean Cobain’s disdain for her mother, Courtney Love, has been no secret over the years – and apparently, it runs in the family.  Love was emancipated from her parents when she was a teenager, and although her daughter chose to live with relatives over being emancipated, it’s pretty clear that she would have taken legal action had she had no other choice.

 (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Taylor Momsen

Best-known for her role on the popular series, Gossip Girl, Taylor Momsen’s relationship with her real-life parents is nothing like her character’s. Although she did not seek emancipation the way most stars do, Momsen was legally considered an adult at age 16 because she finished high school early; a rule that is outlined in New York state law.

(Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for PUMA)

Jena Malone

LACOSTE Beautiful Desert Pool Party - Day 1

At 15 years old, Jena Malone took legal action to be emancipated from her mother who she believed was not properly managing her money.  However, Malone’s place seemed to genuinely come from a place of maturity. Malone also began living a more independent life and taking care of herself.  However, she revealed that living alone at such an early age was not easy. According to Malone: “When I first moved out on my own, it was weird. If I wanted to eat, I had to cook. I could stay up as late as I wanted, but after a few nights of staying up until dawn, you realize you need sleep. You eventually grow up.”

(Photo by Chris Weeks/Getty Images for LACOSTE)

Ariel Winter

20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - Red Carpet

Modern Family’s Ariel Winter literally just became emancipated a few days ago.  After a long battle with her parents, she is now legally on her own.  After the ruling was mad official, Winter tweeted: “”I am now officially emancipated!!! I’m really lucky I have an amazing support system and lovely people in my life who have given me the support and guidance to have been given this wonderful opportunity.”

 (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Aaron Carter

Dave & Buster's Hollywood & Highland Grand Opening

Singer Aaron Carter, the younger brother of Backstreet Boy, Nick Carter, became emancipated at 16 years-old.  Carter believed that his mother, who was also his manager, was mismanaging his money.  According to Carter, “I worked hard for months — 10, 11 hours a day, not including school and press appearances — and I come home and owe money!” However, even after becoming emancipated, Carter’s career struggled, and he was never able to get back on track.

 (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for Dave & Buster’s)

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