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Age of Majority and Emancipation in Colorado

In Colorado, a person is of full age at 18 for contracts, managing property, suing and medical decisions.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Colorado at a glance

Age of majority
18
A general statutory definition uses under 21 for "minor" unless another statute says otherwise; the age 18 rule applies to the listed purposes.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Colorado

What is the age of majority in Colorado?

Age of majority in Colorado: 18. A general statutory definition uses under 21 for "minor" unless another statute says otherwise; the age 18 rule applies to the listed purposes.

Where do the Colorado age of majority laws come from?

The rules above come from Colo. Rev. Stat. 13-22-101 and Colo. Rev. Stat. 2-4-401(6). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Colorado's statutory construction rules define "minor" as a person under 21, but that definition does not override the express language of other statutes, such as the rule making 18 year olds of full age.

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.