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Age of Majority and Emancipation in Illinois

In Illinois, the age of majority is 18, and under the Emancipation of Minors Act a mature minor age 16 or 17 can petition for partial or complete emancipation.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Illinois at a glance

Age of majority
18
Emancipation by court petition
Yes
Procedure: Emancipation of Minors Act. The minor must show the ability to manage their own affairs and have lived wholly or partly independent of parents.
Minimum age to petition
16

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Illinois

What is the age of majority in Illinois?

Age of majority in Illinois: 18.

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

Yes. Emancipation by court petition in Illinois: yes. Procedure: Emancipation of Minors Act. The minor must show the ability to manage their own affairs and have lived wholly or partly independent of parents.

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

Minimum age to petition in Illinois: 16.

Where do the Illinois age of majority laws come from?

The rules above come from 755 ILCS 5/11-1, 750 ILCS 30/3-1 and 750 ILCS 30/7. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The petition requirements in 750 ILCS 30/7 were last amended by Public Act 103-22, effective August 8, 2023.

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.