The age of majority marks the legal transition from childhood to adulthood. It is the specific age at which the law recognizes a person as having the full rights and responsibilities of an adult, separate from their parents or guardians. This legal threshold is determined by individual state laws.
Defining the Age of Majority in Texas
In Texas, the age of majority is 18. This is established by the Texas Family Code, which defines a “child” or “minor” as a person under 18 years of age. Once a person celebrates their eighteenth birthday, they are legally considered an “adult” for most purposes and are no longer under the legal control of their parents.
This change means that an 18-year-old is presumed by law to be competent to manage their own affairs. The law no longer considers them a minor, except in specific situations where other statutes impose a higher age requirement. The statute also notes exceptions for individuals who have been married or have had their “disabilities of minority removed for general purposes,” a legal process known as emancipation.
Key Legal Changes Upon Reaching Majority
Turning 18 grants a person a significant set of new legal rights and imposes adult responsibilities. These include:
- The ability to vote in local, state, and federal elections.1Texas Legislature. Election Code Chapter 11. Qualifications and Requirements for Voting
- The legal capacity to enter into binding contracts in their own name, which includes signing a lease for an apartment, purchasing a car, or taking out a loan.
- The right to make independent medical decisions, as parents no longer have automatic access to their adult child’s medical information or the authority to consent to treatment.
- Eligibility to serve on a jury.2Texas Legislature. Government Code Chapter 62. Petit Juries
- The ability to sue or be sued in court under their own name.
This transition also has important implications in the context of family law and criminal justice. For most situations, a parent’s obligation to pay child support terminates when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later.3Texas Legislature. Family Code Chapter 154. Child Support In the criminal justice system, an individual is considered an adult at age 17, facing adult charges and penalties rather than being processed through the juvenile system.4Texas Legislature. Penal Code Chapter 8. General Defenses to Criminal Responsibility
Achieving Adult Status Early Emancipation
It is possible for a person to gain the legal status of an adult before their eighteenth birthday through a court-ordered process called removal of the disabilities of minority, more commonly known as emancipation. This legal action grants a minor the rights and responsibilities of an adult, effectively ending the parent-child legal relationship.
The Texas Family Code outlines the requirements for a minor to petition the court for emancipation. Generally, the minor must be a Texas resident, at least 17 years old, and be self-supporting and capable of managing their own financial affairs. A minor who is 16 years old may also petition if they are living separate and apart from their parents or legal guardian.5Texas Legislature. Family Code Chapter 31. Removal of Disabilities of Minority
The court will review the minor’s petition, which must state why emancipation is in their best interest. The judge evaluates the minor’s maturity level, living situation, and ability to make responsible decisions for themselves. If the court finds that removing the disabilities of minority serves the minor’s best interests, it will issue an order granting them the legal status of an adult.
Other Important Age-Related Legal Milestones in Texas
While 18 is the general age of majority, Texas law specifies different age thresholds for certain activities and rights. These specific age limits do not change the overall status of an 18-year-old as an adult but create exceptions for particular regulated areas. For instance, obtaining a driver’s license involves a multi-stage process with age-based restrictions before a full, unrestricted license is available.
The most well-known exception is the minimum age for the legal purchase, possession, and consumption of alcoholic beverages, which is 21. Texas enforces a zero-tolerance policy for minors and alcohol, meaning any detectable amount of alcohol in the system of a person under 21 operating a vehicle is an offense.6Texas Public Law. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041 – Driving or Operating Watercraft Under the Influence of Alcohol by Minor Similarly, the legal age to purchase tobacco and e-cigarette products is 21.7Texas Public Law. Texas Health and Safety Code Section 161.252 – Possession, Purchase, Consumption, or Receipt of Cigarettes, E-cigarettes, or Tobacco Products by Minors Prohibited
The age of consent for sexual activity in Texas is 17.8Texas Legislature. Penal Code Chapter 21. Sexual Offenses These distinct age requirements are established for public policy reasons related to safety, health, and welfare.