"Modern Family" actress Ariel Winter, 17, took to Twitter to announce that she is officially emancipated from her abusive mother Chrisoula Workman.
"I am now officially emancipated!!!" Winter tweeted on May 15. "I'm really lucky I have an amazing support system and lovely people in my life who have given me the support and guidance to have been given this wonderful opportunity."
The actress who plays Alex Dunphy in the ABC series "Modern Family" was born Ariel Winter Workman on Jan. 28, 1998 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Although she is still a minor, Winter is no longer under the custody or control of her guardians or parents and must support herself under the terms of emancipation in California, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Also, Winter thanked her father Glenn Workman and her sister "One Life To Live" alum Shanelle Gray, who became her guardian in 2012 after the courts found evidence that their mother was emotionally abusing her.
For Winter, she really could not have done it without her father and her sister. She also thanked all of her family, friends, and fans who have supported her through all of my endeavors in life, and have encouraged her.
"Thank you for making my life so special!" Winter wrote. "I can't wait to embark on my new adventures."
Meanwhile, Winter's "Modern Family" co-star Sofia Vergara as been accused of physical abuse by her ex-fiancé Nick Loeb in legal documents filed in August 2014, Film News has learned.
Vergara and Loeb called off their engagement in May 2014. The former is now dating "Magic Mike XXL" actor Joe Manganiello.