Delaware Legal Ages Laws

By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Nicole Prebeck, Esq. | Last updated December 13, 2022

Delaware recognizes 18 as the "age of majority," or the age at which state residents are legally considered adults, as do most other states. But state laws also govern a minor's eligibility to become emancipated, give consent to medical treatment, and other legal matters.

In simple terms, this means that a person under the age of majority needs parent/guardian permission before they can do many things such as enter into a legally binding contract. Once they are 18, permission is no longer needed. Emancipation is not an option for minors in the state of Delaware.

This article provides a brief overview of the legal age statutes in Delaware.

Legal Age Laws in Delaware: At a Glance

The table below highlights some of the main provisions of Delaware's legal age laws. See Emancipation of Minors and Parental Liability Basics for related information.

Age of Majority	18 (Del. C. 1 § 701)
Eligibility for Emancipation	No statute
Contracts by Minors	18 (Del. C. 6 § 2705)
Minors' Ability to Sue	18 (Del. C. 10 § 3923)
Minors' Consent to Medical Treatment	Under Del C. 13 § 707, consent to medical treatment may be given by the parent or guardian of any minor, a married minor, a person of the age of 18 or older, or a minor parent for their child
Legal Age for Alcohol and Tobacco/E-cigarette Purchase and/or Consumption	21

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

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Delaware Code
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