What process allowed sons to become independent heads of households?

The correct answer is the process known as emancipatio. In ancient Roman society, emancipatio was a legal procedure that permitted a son to be freed from the power of his father, known as patria potestas. This process allowed the son to become an independent head of his own household and to manage his own affairs. Emancipatio was significant, as it symbolized the transfer of legal and familial authority, effectively releasing the son from the lifelong authority that the father held over him.

Patria potestas, while relevant to the context, describes the absolute authority that a father had over his children in Roman law, including the rights to make decisions about their lives. However, it does not relate to the process of a son gaining independence.

The terms suspectio and auctoritas refer to different aspects of social and familial relationships within Roman culture but do not specifically pertain to the process that allowed a son to become independent. Thus, understanding the importance of emancipatio in the context of Roman family law highlights how it facilitated the transition from dependence to independence for sons within that societal structure.