Minors – Age of Majority – Maryland
(a)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection or as otherwise specifically provided by statute, a person eighteen years of age or more is an adult for all purposes whatsoever and has the same legal capacity, rights, powers, privileges, duties, liabilities, and responsibilities as prior to July 1, 1973, persons had at twenty-one years of age, and the “age of majority” is hereby declared to be eighteen years.
(2) A person who has attained the age of 18 years and who is enrolled in secondary school has the right to receive support and maintenance from both of the person’s parents until the first to occur of the following events:
(i) The person dies;
(ii) The person marries;
(iii) The person is emancipated;
(iv) The person graduates from or is no longer enrolled in secondary school; or
(v) The person attains the age of 19 years.:
(b)
(1) The terms “adult”, “of full age”, or “of legal age” refer to persons who have attained the age of eighteen years.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (a)(2) of this section, the term “minor”, as it pertains to legal age and capacity, refers to persons who have not attained the age of eighteen years.
Article 1, § 24
Age of Majority
18 (Art. 1, §24)
Emancipation
Married minor may buy or sell property and to join in deed, mortgage, lease, notes if spouse is of age (Est. & Tr. Art. 13 §503(a)); age 15 re insurance and cannot repudiate on basis of minority (Est. & Tr. Art. 13 §503(c)); or if in military, can enter into real estate transactions (Est. & Tr. Art. 13 §503 (b))
Contracts
If not beneficial to minor, void ab initio, not ratifiable; if beneficial to minor or uncertain as to benefit or prejudice, voidable by infant, may be ratified at age 18; ratification may be express or through acceptance of benefits; voidable contract may be disaffirmed by minor during minority or reasonable time after age 18 (COML Art. 1 §103)
Ability to Sue
By guardian, next friend, or parent (R.P. 2-202(b))
Consent to Medical Treatment
If married or a parent or seeking help with drug use, alcoholism, VD, sexual assault, pregnancy, contraception, or if seeking consent would be life threatening (Health Gen. Art. 20 §102); minor 16 or older can consent to treatment for emotional disorder (Health Gen. Art. 20 §104)
