Minors – Age of Majority – Kentucky
Persons of the age of eighteen (18) years are of the age of majority for all purposes in this Commonwealth except for the purchase of alcoholic beverages and for purposes of care and treatment of children with disabilities, for which twenty-one (21) years is the age of majority, all other statutes to the contrary notwithstanding.
Title 1, Chap. 2, §2.015
Age of Majority
18 (§2.015)
Emancipation
Although there’s no law specifying emancipation procedures in Kentucky, it’s still possible to become emancipated before 18. This can happen any of the following ways:
Marriage – A child can marry before 18 and be considered a legal adult, this requires parental consent or a court order granting the marriage license
Self-Support – Moving out of a parent’s home and becoming self-supporting will impliedly emancipate the child, if the parent doesn’t try to get the child back to the home
Court Order – A minor can petition the court for emancipation and, possibly, be granted it by court order
Contracts
Valid for necessities; otherwise, common law generally governs; exception made for war veterans under §384.090 and for borrowing for educational purpose with parental consent (§287.385)
Ability to Sue
May sue by guardian or next friend if unmarried (CR 17.03); if married, may sue on his or her own (CR 17.02
Consent to Medical Treatment
Minors of any age may consent to emergency care or treatment for pregnancy, drug/alcohol abuse, or venereal disease. Minors 16 or older may consent to mental health treatment. Emancipated minors may consent to any treatment (§222.441).
