Wash. Rev. Code » Title 26 · Chapter 26.28
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 26.28.010 (2026)

Age of majority

✓ current as of May 2026
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Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, all persons shall be deemed and taken to be of full age for all purposes at the age of eighteen years.
[ 1971 ex.s. c 292 s 1; 1970 ex.s. c 17 s 1; 1923 c 72 s 2; Code 1881 s 2363; 1866 p 92 s 1; 1863 p 434 s 1; 1854 p 407 s 1; RRS s 10548.]

Notes:

Severability—1971 ex.s. c 292: "If any provision of this 1971 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1971 ex.s. c 292 s 77.]
Saving—1923 c 72: "This act shall not apply to females who shall have attained the age of eighteen years at the time this act shall go into effect." [ 1923 c 72 s 3.] 1923 c 72 was codified as RCW 11.92.010 and 26.28.010.
Age of majority for probate law and procedure purposes: RCW 11.76.080 and 11.76.095.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 56 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1972–2025 · leading case: Johnson v. Morris, 557 P.2d 1299 (Wash. 1976).
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Johnson v. Morris, 557 P.2d 1299 (Wash. 1976). · cites it 6× “095 in light of the 18-year-old general age of majority statute enacted in 1971, RCW 26.28.010, and found that juvenile court commitment power was coterminous with a child’s minority.”
State v. Hirschfelder, 170 Wash. 2d 536 (Wash. 2010). · cites it 3× “¶9 Hirschfelder argues that “minor” as it is used in the provision at issue must exclude students 18 or older because a separate statute, RCW 26.28.010, provides that a person has reached the age of majority, and is therefore no longer a minor according to dictionary definition,…”
Stephens v. Stephens, 534 P.2d 571 (Wash. 1975). · cites it 16× “On May 14, 1970, an amendment to RCW 26.28.010 became effective giving 18-year-olds the right to sue and be sued.”
State v. Moretti, 446 P.3d 609 (Wash. 2019). · cites it 2× “030(38)."Most serious offense" means any class A felony or certain class B felonies that are violent, sexual, or dangerous.”
In re Pers. Restraint of Monschke, 482 P.3d 276 (Wash. 2021). “9 RCW 26.28.010; LAWS OF 1971, 1st Ex. Sess.”
Bennett v. Seattle Mental Health, 269 P.3d 1079 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 4× “" However, courts have held that the age of majority as defined by RCW 26.28.010 applies to RCW 4.24.010. Burt v.”
In Re the Pers. Restraint of Smiley, 640 P.2d 7 (Wash. 1982). · cites it 4× “2d 331 (1975), which held that since state law (RCW 26.28.010) established the age of majority at 18, juvenile courts cease to have jurisdiction over an individual once he or she reaches that age.”
State v. Shawn P., 859 P.2d 1220 (Wash. 1993). · cites it 2× “RCW 26.28.010 provides that "[e]xcept as otherwise specifically provided by law, all persons shall be deemed and taken to be of full age for all purposes at the age of eighteen years.”
State v. Hirschfelder, 242 P.3d 876 (Wash. 2010). · cites it 3× “¶ 9 Hirschfelder argues that "minor" as it is used in the provision at issue must exclude students 18 or older because a separate statute, RCW 26.28.010, provides that a person has reached the age of majority, and is therefore no longer a minor according to dictionary…”
In Re Carson, 530 P.2d 331 (Wash. 1975). · cites it 5× “is whether RCW 26.28.010, which generally confers majority at age 18, also does so in regard to juvenile court jurisdiction, or whether, as in Lundy and Gilder , majority in terms of termination of juvenile court jurisdiction is attained only at age 21.”
Davis v. Dep't of Licensing, 977 P.2d 554 (Wash. 1999). “Indeed, the Legislature has specifically declined to adopt such a universal definition for the age of adulthood; RCW 26.28.010 states: Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, all persons shall be deemed and taken to be of full age for all purposes at the age of…”
Sturgis v. State of Washington, 368 F. Supp. 38 (W.D. Wash. 1973). · cites it 3× “(5) The term `minor' shall mean a male or female person who is not deemed and taken to be of full age and majority for all purposes under RCW 26.28.010, as now law or hereafter amended; the term `emancipated minor' shall mean a minor whose parents have entirely surrendered the…”
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