---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-720. Conditions under which emancipation may occur.
collection: code
id: 15-11-720
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-720 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-720
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-720.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-720/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t15-ch1-11a-(v13)-2020-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d8a8826c_0#page=1361
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COURTS / JUVENILE CODE / EMANCIPATION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-11-720. Conditions under which emancipation may occur.

(a) Emancipation may occur by operation of law or pursuant to a petition filed with the court as provided in this article by a child who is at least 16 years of age.

(b) An emancipation occurs by operation of law:

(1) When a child is validly married;

(2) When a child reaches the age of 18 years; or

(3) During the period when a child is on active duty with the armed forces of the United States.

(c) An emancipation occurs by court order pursuant to a petition filed by a child with the juvenile court.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-11-720, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242.