The legal age in Texas for adulthood depends on the relevant action. Learn about the legal age for various benefits, from living independently to drinking.
In most cases, a Texas citizen is considered a legal adult at 18. This means they can enter into contracts, marry and vote. However, there are exceptions to this rule.
Summary
The legal age in Texas for many of the benefits of adulthood is 18
Different ages apply for some benefits, like drinking alcohol
You can face adult criminal charges at just 17
Children and teens often say they cannot wait to be adults. Adulthood brings many legal benefits, including the ability to marry, move out and work without parental permission. The age of majority in Texas determines when someone becomes an adult.
However, the state also has several other age requirements for legal benefits. Moreover, emancipated children can gain many of these benefits so that they can survive without their parents. ConsumerShield helps people dealing with legal issues understand their rights and find legal representation. Contact us for a free case review.
Overview of Texas Legal Age Laws
In Texas, legal age laws are fairly similar to those in other states:
Individuals are considered minors until they reach the age of 18
At 18, they may sign contracts and perform civic duties
At 17, a minor may join the military with parental consent
Notably, although 17-year-olds are treated as juveniles in most instances, they are automatically treated as adults in the criminal justice system. Whether a 17-year-old is arrested for a petty crime or something as serious as felony assault and battery or first-degree murder, they will be treated as an adult.
What Age Is Considered an Adult in Texas?
Texas law recognizes 18-year-olds as adults. This means they have the legal capacity to make binding commitments. They can be sued for their actions and file lawsuits for wrongs against them.
For example, the statute of limitations for a personal injury case is two years in Texas. When a minor suffers an injury, the law pauses the statute until they reach 18. Once they reach 18, the two-year time limit begins.
What Can You Do at 18 in Texas?
Once someone reaches legal adulthood, some legal commitments they can make include:
Entering Into Contracts
The right to contract is essential for many transactions essential for adults, including:
Taking out a loan
Buying a vehicle
Renting or buying a home
Working as a contract employee
The 18-year-old is deemed to have the common sense and intelligence to understand what they are doing and abide by their promises. Keep in mind that age alone is not enough to form a legally binding contract. A person might still be unable to enter into a contract if they have a mental condition or other legal disability that impairs their ability to understand the terms of their deal.
Working
18-year-olds can work without permission from their parents. The law encourages children under 18 to go to school rather than work. By limiting when, where and how long children can work, the state hopes that they will have time to focus on their education.
Once the child turns 18, they need to work to support themselves. Their parents are no longer legally obligated to support them, so their average hours worked per week must go up so they can earn a living.
Marrying
The legal age to marry without a parent’s permission is 18. Texas allows marriages of younger people with parental permission for children 16 through 18 and court permission for children under 16.
Performing Civic Duties
Once a child reaches 18, they obtain most of the civic rights afforded to adults, including:
Voting
Serving jury duty
Enlisting in the military
The child may also become eligible for government employment and certain elected offices.
Is 17 Considered a Minor in Texas?
17-year-olds are considered minors in Texas for most purposes. However, there are a few important exceptions to this general rule.
First, prosecutors can charge anyone 17 or older as an adult in criminal court. Defendants younger than 17 typically have their cases handled in family court, and the punishments they receive are often focused on rehabilitation rather than incarceration.
Once a defendant reaches 17, they face criminal charges in district court and may receive adult punishments upon conviction.
Emancipation of Minors in Texas
Teens can seek emancipation from their parents at 17 if they are living with their parents or 16 if they live away from their parents. Emancipation gives the teen certain adult legal rights, including the right to move out, form contracts and manage their finances. They can also work, although their wage might fall far below the average American income.
They must be at least 17 (or 16 and living apart from guardians)
They must be self-supporting
A minor interested in emancipation must file a petition with the court. The court will then decide whether emancipation is in their best interests.
Other Age Restrictions in Texas
Texas has several other age restrictions. The most important to children and teenagers are driving and purchasing alcohol. The legal age in Texas to begin driving is 15. At this age, a teen can apply for a learner’s license that allows them to practice driving with an adult 21 or older in the vehicle.
Under the state’s graduated licensing system, a teen can apply for a provisional license once they reach 16 and have completed at least 30 hours of driving practice. Drivers with a provisional license must comply with the following restrictions:
No more than one passenger in the vehicle under 21 who is not a family member
No driving between midnight and 5 a.m. except for work, school or emergencies
No cell phone use while driving, including hands-free calls, except for emergencies
You must be at least 21 to buy alcohol in Texas. Since the state only allows alcohol sales to people 21 or older, anyone under this age caught with any amount of alcohol in their system violates the state’s zero tolerance law. In other words, the legal alcohol limit for those under 21 is zero, and they may face license suspension, fines and incarceration.
Consenting to Medical Treatment as a Minor
In most cases, the parent of a minor in Texas must consent to any medical treatment the minor receives. However, there are some exceptions. A minor may consent to their own medical treatment if one of the following applies:
They are in the military
They are at least 16 and living apart from their parents
Minors may also consent to vaccines and emergency medical care without a parent’s approval.
What Is the Legal Age in Texas to Consent to Sex?
In Texas, the age of consent is 17. If someone engages in sexual contact with a person under 17, they may face charges for statutory rape. These charges apply even if the younger person consented to the activity or lied about their age.
However, there is a notable exception: the “Romeo and Juliet” law. Like many other states, Texas has laws in place to protect young people in consensual relationships from major legal consequences.
Texas Romeo and Juliet Law
Each state with a Romeo and Juliet law sets its own provisions. In Texas, both of the following must apply:
The parties are at least 14 years old
Their ages are within three years of each other
This way, if a high-school couple includes a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old, the 17-year-old could avoid being charged with statutory rape for consensual sexual activity.
Contact ConsumerShield to Learn More About the Legal Age in Texas
Your legal rights and obligations vary widely based on your age. ConsumerShield helps people understand their legal situations and find a lawyer to assist them. Contact us for a free case review and lawyer referral.
Sarah Edwards
Contributor
Sarah Edwards is a seasoned legal writer with more than a decade of experience.
You must be 18 to buy a long gun in Texas. This restriction applies to rifles and shotguns. You must also be over 18 to buy ammunition. However, this limitation comes from federal gun laws rather than Texas law.
Texas does not have a specific restriction on the minimum age to buy a handgun. Under federal law, gun dealers are restricted from selling handguns to anyone under 21. Moreover, they cannot sell handgun ammunition to buyers under 21. Texas allows permitless carry of handguns by those 21 or older.
Children in Texas must attend school until they turn 18 unless they fall into an exemption. Students who are 16 or 17 are excused from compulsory attendance if they are enrolled in a GED course. 16-year-olds must have a court order, and 17-year-olds must have their parents’ permission.
The age of consent in Texas for sex is 17 years old. If someone engages in sex with someone younger than 17, prosecutors may charge them with statutory rape. Under the law, children 16 or younger are legally incapable of consenting to sex.
