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Age of Majority and Emancipation in Missouri

In Missouri, the legal age to contract is 18, and state guardianship law defines an adult as a person who has reached 18.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Missouri at a glance

Age of majority
18

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Missouri

What is the age of majority in Missouri?

Age of majority in Missouri: 18.

Where do the Missouri age of majority laws come from?

The rules above come from Mo. Rev. Stat. 431.055 and Mo. Rev. Stat. 475.010. 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.