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Age of Majority and Emancipation in Texas

In Texas, the age of majority is 18, and a minor who is 17, or 16 and living apart from parents, may petition to have the disabilities of minority removed.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Texas at a glance

Age of majority
18
Emancipation by court petition
Yes
Procedure: Removal of disabilities of minority.
Minimum age to petition
16 (17 if living with parents)
A minor must be 17, or at least 16 and living separate and apart from parents, managing conservator or guardian.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Texas

What is the age of majority in Texas?

Age of majority in Texas: 18.

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

Yes. Emancipation by court petition in Texas: yes. Procedure: Removal of disabilities of minority.

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

Minimum age to petition in Texas: 16 (17 if living with parents). A minor must be 17, or at least 16 and living separate and apart from parents, managing conservator or guardian.

Where do the Texas age of majority laws come from?

The rules above come from Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 129.001 and Tex. Fam. Code 31.001. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The minor must be a Texas resident and self-supporting and managing their own financial affairs, and may file in their own name (Tex. Fam. Code 31.001).

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.