After their divorce, when Elizabeth L. pursued her ex for failing to honor his child-support obligations for their youngest son, the guy--Robinson L.--argued that the payments were no longer required because of the kid's "emancipation." (The parties' divorce settlement agreement provided that once their kids established a "[p]ermanent residence away from the residence of the Wife," Robinson's support obligations ended.)
When the New York County Supreme Court ended up siding with the guy, Elizabeth appealed.
Because Robinson paid for most of the boy's expenses (including educational and medical costs), and since the kid lived with his dad, received mail at his father's residence, and had obtained a New York City driver's license which listed his father's address, the Appellate Division, First Department, agreed that the father's payment obligations had terminated.
Now that's some emancipation proclamation.
To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: L. v. L.