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Age of Majority and Emancipation in New York

In New York, a minor or infant is a person under 18, so adulthood generally begins at 18.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

New York at a glance

Age of majority
18
Defined in the Domestic Relations Law and the CPLR for those chapters.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in New York

What is the age of majority in New York?

Age of majority in New York: 18. Defined in the Domestic Relations Law and the CPLR for those chapters.

Where do the New York age of majority laws come from?

The rules above come from N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law 2 and N.Y. CPLR 105(j). 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.