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Age of Majority and Emancipation in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, an adult is a person who has reached 18 (17 for criminal and certain civil law enforcement purposes), and there is no court procedure for emancipation.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Wisconsin at a glance

Age of majority
18
For investigating or prosecuting violations of law, a person of 17 is treated as an adult.
Emancipation by court petition
No
Wisconsin Law Help (a legal aid site) states there is no court procedure to become emancipated.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Wisconsin

What is the age of majority in Wisconsin?

Age of majority in Wisconsin: 18. For investigating or prosecuting violations of law, a person of 17 is treated as an adult.

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

No. Emancipation by court petition in Wisconsin: no. Wisconsin Law Help (a legal aid site) states there is no court procedure to become emancipated.

Where do the Wisconsin age of majority laws come from?

The rules above come from Wis. Stat. 990.01(3). 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.