EXCLUSIVE

Ariel Winter, the 14-year-old actress who plays Alex Dunphy on "Modern Family," has been removed from her home by a judge in the wake of serious allegations of physical and emotional abuse by her mother ... court sources tell TMZ.

There's a report Ariel is seeking legal emancipation from her mom so she can be with her boyfriend, but that report is false.

Court sources tell us ... on October 3rd, after a guardianship hearing, a judge determined the allegations that Ariel was being physically and emotionally abused by her mother Chrystal Workman were serious enough that the judge placed Ariel in a temporary guardianship with her older sister Shanelle Gray. Our sources tell us ... mama Chrystal was ordered to stay 100 yards away from Ariel.

Ironically, we've learned Shanelle suffered the same alleged abuse as Ariel. Nearly two decades ago, the Department of Children and Family Services removed her from Chrystal's home based on similar abuse allegations. Law enforcement sources tell us ... D.C.F.S. placed Shanelle in foster care for more than 2 years. She never went back to her mother.