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Age of Majority and Emancipation in Arkansas

In Arkansas, the age of majority is 18, and circuit courts can remove the disabilities of a minor who has reached 16 so the minor can transact business as an adult.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Arkansas at a glance

Age of majority
18
Emancipation by court petition
Yes
Procedure: Removal of disabilities. The order lets the minor transact business as if of full age; the minor must be a county resident.
Minimum age to petition
16

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Arkansas

What is the age of majority in Arkansas?

Age of majority in Arkansas: 18.

Does Arkansas have a statute that lets a minor petition a court for emancipation?

Yes. Emancipation by court petition in Arkansas: yes. Procedure: Removal of disabilities. The order lets the minor transact business as if of full age; the minor must be a county resident.

How old must a minor be to petition for emancipation in Arkansas?

Minimum age to petition in Arkansas: 16.

Where do the Arkansas age of majority laws come from?

The rules above come from Ark. Code 9-25-101 and Ark. Code 9-26-104. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

The age of majority is not the same as every age limit in the law. Separate rules can set the age for drinking alcohol, buying tobacco, making a will, marrying without consent or ending child support, so check the specific rule that applies to the question you have.

Emancipation usually requires a court petition and proof that the minor can support and manage themselves. A court order may grant full adult status or only specific rights, and it can end a parent's duty of support. Read the order and the statute together to see exactly what changes.

Documents signed for a minor, such as a medical consent form or a power of attorney for a child, generally stop being needed once the child reaches the age of majority. Contracts signed by a minor may be voidable, so adults dealing with minors often ask a parent or guardian to sign as well.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.