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Age of Majority and Emancipation in Maine

In Maine, the age of majority is 18, and a juvenile 16 or older who refuses to live at home can ask the District Court to appoint counsel to petition for emancipation.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maine at a glance

Age of majority
18
Emancipation by court petition
Yes
The court orders emancipation if the juvenile has provided for room, board, health care and education, training or work and is mature enough.
Minimum age to petition
16

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maine

What is the age of majority in Maine?

Age of majority in Maine: 18.

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

Yes. Emancipation by court petition in Maine: yes. The court orders emancipation if the juvenile has provided for room, board, health care and education, training or work and is mature enough.

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

Minimum age to petition in Maine: 16.

Where do the Maine age of majority laws come from?

The rules above come from 1 M.R.S. 72(11) and 15 M.R.S. 3506-A. 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.

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