emancipation
    n 1: freeing someone from the control of another; especially a
         parent's relinquishing authority and control over a minor
         child

Emancipation \E*man`ci*pa"tion\, n. [L. emancipatio: cf. F.
   ['e]mancipation.]
   The act of setting free from the power of another, from
   slavery, subjection, dependence, or controlling influence;
   also, the state of being thus set free; the act or process of
   emancipation, or the state thereby achieved; liberation; as,
   the emancipation of slaves; the emancipation of minors; the
   emancipation of a person from prejudices; the emancipation of
   the mind from superstition; the emancipation of a nation from
   tyranny or subjection.

   Syn: Deliverance; liberation; release; freedom; manumission;
        enfranchisement.
        [1913 Webster]

EMANCIPATION. An act by which a person, who was once in the power of 
another, is rendered free. B y the laws of Louisiana, minors may be 
emancipated. Emancipation is express or implied. 
     2. Express emancipation. The minor may be emancipated by his father, 
or, if be has no father, by his mother, under certain restrictions. This 
emancipation takes place by the declaration, to that effect, of the father 
or mother, before a notary public, in the presence of two witnesses. The 
orphan minor may, likewise, be emancipated by the judge, but not before he 
has arrived at the full age of eighteen years, if the family meeting, called 
to that effect, be of opinion that he is able to administer his property. 
The minor may be emancipated against the will of his father and mother, when 
they ill treat him excessively, refuse him support, or give him corrupt 
example. 
     3. The marriage of the minor is an implied emancipation.
     4. The minor who is emancipated has the full administration of his 
estate, and may pass all act's which may be confined to such administration; 
grant leases, receive his revenues and moneys which may be due him, and give 
receipts for the same. He cannot bind himself legally, by promise or 
obligation, for any sum exceeding the amount of one year of his revenue. 
When he is engaged in trade, he is considered as leaving arrived to the age 
of majority, for all acts which have any relation to such trade. 
     5. The emancipation, whatever be the manner in. which it may have been 
effected, may be revoked, whenever the minor contracts engagements which 
exceed the limits prescribed by law. 
     6. By the English law, filial emancipation is recognized, chiefly, in 
relation to the parochial settlement of paupers. See 3 T. R. 355; 6 T. R. 
247; 8 T. R. 479; 2 East, 276; 10 East, 88.; 11 Verm. R. 258, 477. See 
Manumission. See Coop. Justin. 441, 480; 2 Dall. Rep. 57, 58; Civil Code of 
Louisiana, B. 1, tit. 8, c. 3; Code Civ. B. 1, tit. 10, c. 2; Diet. de 
Droit, par Ferriere; Diet. de Jurisp. art. Emancipation. 

EMANCIPATION, n.  A bondman's change from the tyranny of another to
the despotism of himself.

    He was a slave:  at word he went and came;
        His iron collar cut him to the bone.
    Then Liberty erased his owner's name,
        Tightened the rivets and inscribed his own.
                                                                  G.J.