<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 25-5-26 - Petition for emancipation--Procedure. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2049989Normal { text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2049989SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2049989CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2049989Normal-000000 { text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2049989DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2049989Normal-000001 { margin-left: 0.70in; text-indent: -0.45in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } p.s2049989Normal-000002 { text-indent: 0.25in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2049989000003 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2049989SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2049989SCL-000004 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { text-decoration-skip-ink: none; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=25-5-26"><span class="s2049989SENU">25-5-26</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2049989SENU">. </span><span class="s2049989CL">Petition for emancipation--Procedure.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal-000000"><span class="s2049989DefaultParagraphFont">A minor may petition the circuit court of the county in which he resides for a declaration of emancipation. The petition shall be verified and shall set forth with specificity all of the following:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal-000001"><span class="s2049989DefaultParagraphFont">(1)    That he is at least sixteen years of age;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal-000001"><span class="s2049989DefaultParagraphFont">(2)    That he willingly lives separate and apart from his parents or guardian with the consent or acquiescence of his parents or guardian;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal-000001"><span class="s2049989DefaultParagraphFont">(3)    That he is managing his own financial affairs;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal-000001"><span class="s2049989DefaultParagraphFont">(4)    That the source of his income is not derived from any activity declared to be a crime by the laws of the State of South Dakota or the laws of the United States.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal-000002"><span class="s2049989DefaultParagraphFont">Before the petition is heard, such notice as the court deems reasonable shall be given to the minor's parents, guardian, or other person entitled to the custody of the minor, or proof made to the court that their addresses are unknown, or that for other reasons such notice cannot be given. If a minor is a ward or dependent child of the state, notice shall be given to the appropriate state agency.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal-000002"><span class="s2049989DefaultParagraphFont">The court shall sustain the petition if it finds that the minor is a person that fulfills the requirements of this section and that emancipation would not be contrary to his best interest.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal-000002"><span class="s2049989DefaultParagraphFont">If the petition is sustained, the court shall forthwith issue a declaration of emancipation, which shall be filed by the clerk of court.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal-000002"><span class="s2049989DefaultParagraphFont">If the petition is denied, the minor may appeal to the Supreme Court.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal-000002"><span class="s2049989DefaultParagraphFont">If the petition is sustained, the parents or guardian may appeal to the Supreme Court if they have appeared in the proceeding and opposed the granting of the petition.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal-000002"><span class="s2049989DefaultParagraphFont">A declaration is conclusive evidence that the minor is emancipated.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2049989000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049989Normal"><span class="s2049989SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2049989SCL-000004"> SL 1991, ch 211, § 3; SL 1993, ch 213, § 114.</span></p></div></body></html>