Colorado Revised Statutes

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-22-101 (2026)

Competence of persons eighteen years of age or older

✓ current as of July 2026
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(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law enacted or any judicial decision made prior to July 1, 1973, every person, otherwise competent, shall be deemed to be of full age at the age of eighteen years or older for the following specific purposes: (a) To enter into any legal contractual obligation and to be legally bound thereby to the full extent as any other adult person; but such obligation shall not be considered a family expense of the parents of the person who entered into the contract, under section 14-6-110, C.R.S.; (b) To manage his estate in the same manner as any other adult person. This section shall not apply to custodial property given or held under the terms of the "Colorado Uniform Transfers to Minors Act", article 50 of title 11, C.R.S., or property held for a protected person under the "Colorado Probate Code", article 14 of title 15, C.R.S., unless otherwise permitted in said articles; (c) To sue and be sued in any action to the full extent as any other adult person in any of the courts of this state, without the necessity for a guardian ad litem or someone acting in his behalf; (d) To make decisions in regard to his own body and the body of his issue, whether natural or adopted by such person, to the full extent allowed to any other adult person.

Source: L. 73: p. 543, §§ 1, 2. C.R.S. 1963: § 41-4-1. L. 84: (1)(b) amended, p. 394, § 5, effective July 1. L. 91: (1)(b) amended, p. 1442, § 2, effective July 1.

13-22-102. Minors - consent for medical care and treatment for use of drugs or a substance use disorder. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any physician licensed to practice in this state, upon consultation by a minor as a patient, with the consent of such minor patient, may examine, prescribe for, and treat the minor patient for use of drugs or a substance use disorder without the consent of or notification to the parent, parents, or legal guardian of the minor patient, or to any other person having custody or decision-making responsibility with respect to the medical care of the minor patient. In any such case the physician or any person acting pursuant to the minor's direction incurs no civil or criminal liability by reason of having made such examination or prescription or having rendered such treatment, but this immunity does not apply to any negligent acts or omissions by the physician or any person acting pursuant to the physician's direction.

Source: L. 71: p. 493, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 41-2-12. L. 98: Entire section amended, p. 1393, § 28, effective February 1, 1999. L. 2017: Entire section amended, (SB 17-242), ch. 263, p. 1293, § 109, effective May 25.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 17-242, see section 1 of chapter 263, Session Laws of Colorado 2017.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 27 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1976–2025 · leading case: In re the Marriage of Williams & Tibbetts, 2018 COA 117 (Colo. Ct. App. 2018).
In re the Marriage of Williams & Tibbetts, 2018 COA 117 (Colo. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 6× “5 ¶ 12 The age of competence statute, section 13-22-101(1), C.R.S. 2017, provides as follows: [E]very person, otherwise competent, shall be deemed to be of full age at the age of eighteen years or older for the following specific purposes: (a) To enter into any legal contractual…”
Elgin v. Bartlett, 994 P.2d 411 (Colo. 1999). · cites it 9× “Harris-Dubose argues that the court of appeals’ interpretation of the tolling statutes is inconsistent with section 13-22-101(l)(c), 5 C.R.S. (1999).”
Jones v. Dressel, 623 P.2d 370 (Colo. 1981). · cites it 3× “Section 13-22-101(l)(a), C.R.S. 1973 provides: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law enacted or any judicial decision made prior to July 1, 1973, every person, otherwise competent, shall be deemed to be of full age at the age of eighteen years or older for the following…”
McKinney v. Armco Recreational Prods., Inc., 419 F. Supp. 464 (D. Colo. 1976). · cites it 8× “The problem with plaintiff’s analysis, as defendant correctly points out, is that it ignores yet another provision of the Colorado Statutes, Colo.Rev.Stat.Ann. § 13-22-101 (1973), which states in part: Competence of persons eighteen years of age or older.”
People in Interest of EEA v. JM, 854 P.2d 1346 (Colo. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 4× “Pursuant to § 13-22-101, C.R.S. (1987 Repl. Vol. 6A), any person under the age of 18 may not sue or be sued without being represented by a guardian ad litem or someone acting in their behalf.”
In Re Marriage of Weaver, 571 P.2d 307 (Colo. Ct. App. 1977). · cites it 4× “Section 13-22-101, C.R.S.1973, treats persons over 18 as adults only for the specific purposes stated therein, and there is no provision in that statute dealing with support from the child's parents, except that the parents are not liable to third persons on contracts entered…”
K9Shrink, LLC v. Ridgewood Meadows Water & Homeowners Ass'n, 278 P.3d 372 (Colo. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 3× “Addressing that contention, the supreme court relied on section 13-22-101, C.R.S. 2010, which mandates that a person be eighteen years of age or older to be competent to sue unless a guardian ad litem has been appointed to represent him or her.”
People in Interest of MC, 895 P.2d 1098 (Colo. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 3× “” Section 13-22-101(1)(c), C.R.S. (1987 Repl.”
People ex rel. L.A.C., 97 P.3d 363 (Colo. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 5× “Section 13-22-101, C.R.S.2003, defines the age of competency for certain specific purposes: (1) .”
In Re the Marriage of Dureno, 854 P.2d 1352 (Colo. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 2× “See § 13-22-101(l)(c), C.R.S. (1987 Repl.Vol.”
The PEOPLE of the State of Colorado, In the Interest of M.M., a Child, & concerning C.M., 726 P.2d 1108 (Colo. 1986). “§ 13-22-101 (1) (c) , 6 C.R.S. ( 1973 ) ; C.”
SOV v. People in Interest of MC, 914 P.2d 355 (Colo. 1996). · cites it 3× “was not a party to the original paternity action because section 13-22-101, 6A C.R.S. (1987), requires that a person be eighteen years of age or older to be competent to sue unless a guardian ad litem is appointed to represent that person.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-22-101(1) — 3 cases
In re the Marriage of Williams & Tibbetts, 2018 COA 117 (Colo. Ct. App. 2018). “5 ¶ 12 The age of competence statute, section 13-22-101(1), C.R.S. 2017, provides as follows: [E]very person, otherwise competent, shall be deemed to be of full age at the age of eighteen years or older for the following specific purposes: (a) To enter into any legal contractual…”
Jones v. Dressel, 582 P.2d 1057 (Colo. Ct. App. 1978).
Casa Bonita Restaurant v. Indus. Comm'n, 677 P.2d 344 (Colo. Ct. App. 1983).
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-22-101(1)(c) — 2 cases
In re the Marriage of Williams & Tibbetts, 2018 COA 117 (Colo. Ct. App. 2018). “5 ¶ 12 The age of competence statute, section 13-22-101(1), C.R.S. 2017, provides as follows: [E]very person, otherwise competent, shall be deemed to be of full age at the age of eighteen years or older for the following specific purposes: (a) To enter into any legal contractual…”
People in Interest of MC, 895 P.2d 1098 (Colo. Ct. App. 1995). “” Section 13-22-101(1)(c), C.R.S. (1987 Repl.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-22-101(1)(d) — 2 cases
In re the Marriage of Williams & Tibbetts, 2018 COA 117 (Colo. Ct. App. 2018). “5 ¶ 12 The age of competence statute, section 13-22-101(1), C.R.S. 2017, provides as follows: [E]very person, otherwise competent, shall be deemed to be of full age at the age of eighteen years or older for the following specific purposes: (a) To enter into any legal contractual…”
Marriage of Keyes (Colo. Ct. App. 2025).
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-22-101(l)(a) — 1 case
Jones v. Dressel, 623 P.2d 370 (Colo. 1981). “Section 13-22-101(l)(a), C.R.S. 1973 provides: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law enacted or any judicial decision made prior to July 1, 1973, every person, otherwise competent, shall be deemed to be of full age at the age of eighteen years or older for the following…”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-22-101(l)(c) — 4 cases
Elgin v. Bartlett, 994 P.2d 411 (Colo. 1999). “Harris-Dubose argues that the court of appeals’ interpretation of the tolling statutes is inconsistent with section 13-22-101(l)(c), 5 C.R.S. (1999).”
In Re the Marriage of Dureno, 854 P.2d 1352 (Colo. Ct. App. 1992). “See § 13-22-101(l)(c), C.R.S. (1987 Repl.Vol.”
Bartlett v. Elgin, 973 P.2d 694 (Colo. Ct. App. 1999).
People in Interest of MM, 726 P.2d 1108 (Colo. 1986).
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