Section 2111.181. Settlement of claim of emancipated minor

If personal injury, damage to tangible or intangible property, or damage or loss on account of personal injury or damage to tangible or intangible property is caused to a minor who claims to be emancipated, by wrongful act, neglect, or default that would entitle the minor to maintain an action and recover damages for the injury, damage, or loss, and if any minor who claims to be emancipated is entitled to maintain an action for damages or any other relief based on any claim, or is subject to any claim to recover damages or any other relief based on any claim, the minor who claims to be emancipated may file an application in the probate court in the county where the minor then resides, praying for a finding by the court that the minor is in fact emancipated, and authorizing, approving, and consenting to the settlement of the claim by the minor without the appointment of a guardian. Upon hearing on the application, after five days' written notice of the time and place of the hearing has been given to each of the living parents of the minor, whose name and address is known, provided the parent is free from disability other than minority, or, if there is no living parent, after that notice to the next of kin of the minor known to reside in the county, the court may find the minor to be emancipated , may authorize, approve, and consent to the settlement of the claim by the minor without the appointment of a guardian , may authorize the minor to receive and receipt for the settlement, and, upon the minor executing and delivering a full and complete release for the injuries, damages, losses, or claims, may authorize the delivery and payment of the moneys to the minor, to a trustee or guardian of the estate of the minor appointed by the court for the benefit of the minor, or to a depository authorized to receive fiduciary funds to hold the moneys payable to the ward when the ward attains majority, or for the benefit of the minor, as the court may direct.

Upon the finding of the probate court that the minor was, at the time of the injury, damage, loss, or claim, an emancipated minor, and provided the notice required by this section has been given to each living parent, whose name and address is known, then the release executed by the emancipated minor shall be a full and complete discharge and release of any claim that either or both of the parents might have by reason of the personal injury, damage to tangible or intangible property, damage or loss on account of personal injury, or damage to tangible or intangible property, or any other claim of the minor.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.52, SB 124, §1, eff. 1/13/2012.

Effective Date: 05-31-1990