Utah Code

Utah Code § 15-2-1 (2026)

Period of minority

✓ current as of May 2026
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The period of minority extends in males and females to the age of 18 years; but all minors obtain their majority by marriage. It is further provided that courts in divorce actions may order support to age 21.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 40 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1974–2022 · leading case: Lee v. Gaufin, 867 P.2d 572 (Utah 1993).
Lee v. Gaufin, 867 P.2d 572 (Utah 1993). · cites it 8× “1876 Compiled Laws of Utah 345; Utah Code Ann. § 15-2-1 (1992). Today, Rule 17(b) of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure recognizes the legal incapacity of minors by requiring a minor who is a party to a lawsuit to "appear either by a general guardian or by a guardian ad litem…”
Stanton v. Stanton, 421 U.S. 7 (1975). · cites it 5× “She contended, among other things, that Utah Code Ann. § 15-2-1 (1953) [*] to the effect that the period of minority for males extends to age 21 and for females to age 18, is invidiously discriminatory and serves to deny due process and equal protection of the laws, in violation…”
Stanton v. Stanton, 552 P.2d 112 (Utah 1976). · cites it 10× “The Legislature of Utah, in an attempt to satisfy the justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, passed an amendment to Section 15-2-1, U.C.A. 1953, so that it now reads: The period of minority extends in males and females to the age of eighteen years; .”
Stanton v. Stanton, 564 P.2d 303 (Utah 1977). · cites it 12× “The Utah Legislature, after Stanton I, saw fit to enact an amendment [5] to Section 15-2-1, supra footnote 1, so that it now reads: The period of minority extends in males and females to the age of eighteen years.”
H. L. v. Matheson, 450 U.S. 398 (1981). · cites it 2× “1981) (emancipation upon marriage or entry in Armed Services); Utah Code Ann. § 15-2-1 (Supp. 1979) (emancipation upon marriage); Crook v.”
McBroom v. Child, 2016 UT 38 (Utah 2016). · cites it 2× “On March 24, 1975, the Utah Legislature amended the statute and established a uniform age of majority of eighteen years.”
Dehm v. Dehm, 545 P.2d 525 (Utah 1976). · cites it 4× “Prior decisions [1] of this court have construed the word "children" as those persons under the age of majority as defined by Section 15-2-1, U.C.A. 1953. The Uniform Civil Liability for Support Act which is discussed in the majority opinion is a statutory scheme providing for…”
Scott Ex Rel. Scott v. Sch. Bd. of Granite Sch. Dist., 568 P.2d 746 (Utah 1977). · cites it 4× “[8] Section 15-2-1, U.C.A., 1953 (1975 Supp.): "The period of minority extends in males and females to the age of eighteen years; .”
Martinez v. Martinez, 754 P.2d 69 (Utah Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 4× “[5] The award to age 21 was made by the trial court pursuant to Utah Code Ann. § 15-2-1 (1986). [6] A review of plaintiff's expenses shows them to be extremely low and based upon what she actually spent rather than estimates of what she needed to sustain herself and her children…”
English v. English, 565 P.2d 409 (Utah 1977). · cites it 2× “Section 15-2-1, U.C.A.1953, as amended 1975, provides, in divorce actions, a court may order support to age 21.”
Carlson v. Carlson, 584 P.2d 864 (Utah 1978). · cites it 4× “Further harmonizing with the views expressed herein is the fact that the public policy of our state relating to the requirement that children attend school until the age of 18 [6] correlates with the age at which children are emancipated and attain their majority as provided in…”
Fletcher v. Fletcher, 615 P.2d 1218 (Utah 1980). · cites it 2× “By reason of the strong animosities generated over the custody issue, the requirement of rather formalized arrangements until all the parties involved have had time to organize their new life-styles and gain greater insight as to their problems, cannot be deemed an…”
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