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Age of Majority and Emancipation in Maryland

In Maryland, the age of majority is 18, and a parent's support duty can continue to 19 for a child still in secondary school.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maryland at a glance

Age of majority
18
An 18 year old still in secondary school can receive parental support until graduation or age 19, whichever comes first.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maryland

What is the age of majority in Maryland?

Age of majority in Maryland: 18. An 18 year old still in secondary school can receive parental support until graduation or age 19, whichever comes first.

Where do the Maryland age of majority laws come from?

The rules above come from Md. Code, Gen. Prov. 1-401. 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.