Ark. Code Ann. § 9-25-101 (2026)
Age of majority — Exceptions
- All persons of the age of eighteen (18) years shall be considered to have reached the age of majority and be of full age for all purposes. Until the age of eighteen (18) years is attained, they shall be considered minors.
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- Any law of the State of Arkansas that presently requires a person to be of a minimum age of twenty-one (21) years to enjoy any privilege or right or to do any act or to participate in any event, election, or other activity shall be deemed to require that person to be of a minimum age of eighteen (18) years.
- However, this section shall not repeal, amend, or otherwise affect any existing laws concerning or in any way relating to beer, wines, spirituous, vinous, malt liquors, or other alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, vapor products, alternative nicotine products, e-liquid products, or cigarette papers, and the sale thereof to persons under twenty-one (21) years of age.
History. Acts 1873, No. 78, § 1, p. 185; C. & M. Dig., § 4986; Pope's Dig., § 6215; Acts 1975, No. 892, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 57-103; Acts 2019, No. 580, § 5.
Amendments. The 2019 amendment added the (b)(1) and (b)(2) designations; and inserted “tobacco products, vapor products, alternative nicotine products, e-liquid products, or cigarette papers” in (b)(2).
Research References
Ark. L. Rev.
Gitelman and McIvor, Domicile, Residence and Going to School in Arkansas, 37 Ark. L. Rev. 843 (1984).
U. Ark. Little Rock L.J.
Note: Duty of Continued Child Support Past the Age of Majority, 1 U. Ark. Little Rock L.J. 397.
Case Notes
Note. Many of the following cases were decided prior to the 1975 amendment to this section. Prior to that amendment, males reached the age of majority at 21 years of age while females reached the age of majority at 18 years of age.
Agreements Prior to Amendment.
Reduction of legal age of majority for males had no impact on a prior support agreement between divorced husband and wife. Brown v. Smith, 1 Ark. App. 141, 613 S.W.2d 598 (1981).
Consensual Sexual Relations.
Section 5-14-125(a)(6), as applied to a high school teacher who engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student, who was an adult under subsection (a) of this section, infringed on the teacher's fundamental right to privacy and was not the least restrictive method available for the promotion of the state's interest; therefore, it was unconstitutional. Paschal v. State, 2012 Ark. 127, 388 S.W.3d 429 (2012).
Guardian Ad Litem.
In suit to foreclose mortgage on homestead, appointment of guardian ad litem to represent mortgagor's children, who inherited an interest during minority but were of full age when suit was filed, was unnecessary. Federal Land Bank v. Cottrell, 197 Ark. 783, 126 S.W.2d 279 (1939).
Homestead Rights.
The homestead right of a female infant ceases at 21 under the Constitution, but when there are no younger children, the female child may relinquish or abandon the homestead when she reaches the age of 18. Hargett v. Hill, Fontaine & Co., 101 Ark. 510, 142 S.W. 1137 (1912).
Support.
Where daughter was a normal person in every respect and there was no physical or mental handicap which would imply a continuing obligation of support by the parent, the father's legal obligation, absent a contract to the contrary, ceased when she became 18 years of age. Worthington v. Worthington, 207 Ark. 185, 179 S.W.2d 648 (1944).
Once a child reaches majority and is physically and mentally normal, the legal duty of the parents to support that child ceases; that duty cannot be reimposed later if the adult child becomes disabled and needs support. Towery v. Towery, 285 Ark. 113, 685 S.W.2d 155 (1985).
Cited: Brake v. Sides, 95 Ark. 74, 128 S.W. 572 (1910); Gamble v. Phillips, 107 Ark. 561, 156 S.W. 177 (1913); Shinley v. Ricks, 234 Ark. 767, 354 S.W.2d 547 (1962); Jerry v. Jerry, 235 Ark. 589, 361 S.W.2d 92 (1962); Norwood v. Allen, 240 Ark. 232, 398 S.W.2d 684 (1966); Petty v. Petty, 252 Ark. 1032, 482 S.W.2d 119 (1972); Harris v. Pacific Floor Mach. Mfg. Co., 856 F.2d 64 (8th Cir. 1988); Linder v. Howard, 296 Ark. 414, 757 S.W.2d 549 (1988); Thomas v. Swanson, 881 F.2d 523 (8th Cir. 1989); Phillips v. Sugrue, 800 F. Supp. 789 (E.D. Ark. 1992); Manatt v. State, 311 Ark. 17, 842 S.W.2d 845 (1992); Cowden v. Ramsay, 154 B.R. 531 (Bankr. E.D. Ark. 1993); Low v. Ins. Co. of N. Am., 364 Ark. 427, 220 S.W.3d 670 (2005); Miller v. Ark. Office of Child Support Enforcement, 2015 Ark. App. 188, 458 S.W.3d 733 (2015).