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Age of Majority and Emancipation in Indiana

In Indiana, the age of majority is 18, and a juvenile court can emancipate a child on the child's petition only within a child in need of services or delinquency case.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Indiana at a glance

Age of majority
18
Emancipation by court petition
Limited: juvenile court cases only
Available under the dispositional statutes for children in need of services and delinquent children; no general stand-alone petition.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Indiana

What is the age of majority in Indiana?

Age of majority in Indiana: 18.

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

Limited: juvenile court cases only. Emancipation by court petition in Indiana: limited: juvenile court cases only. Available under the dispositional statutes for children in need of services and delinquent children; no general stand-alone petition.

Where do the Indiana age of majority laws come from?

The rules above come from Ind. Code 1-1-4-5, Ind. Code 31-34-20-6 and Ind. Code 31-37-19-27. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The court must find the child wishes to be free from parental control, has enough money for support, understands the consequences and has an acceptable plan for independent living.

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.