Fact check: How does the age of majority vary across different states in the US?

1. Summary of the results

The age of majority varies minimally across different states in the US, with 47 states plus Washington, D.C. setting the age of majority at 18 years old ^[1]. However, there are three notable exceptions:

• Alabama and Nebraska set the age of majority at 19 years old ^{[1] [2]}
• Mississippi has the highest age of majority at 21 years old ^{[1] [2]}

The analyses reveal that while the general age of majority follows this pattern, the age restrictions for specific activities like marriage, driving, and voting can differ significantly from the general age of majority within the same state ^[3]. This creates what experts call "legal coherence" issues, where young people may have different legal rights and responsibilities depending on the specific activity ^{[1] [4]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question focuses solely on the age of majority but misses several important contextual factors:

• Custodial accounts and estate planning have different age requirements that may not align with the general age of majority, with some states having different UTMA (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act) ages ^[2]
• Marriage laws present a significant exception, as while every state sets a minimum marriage age at or above 18, most states allow minors to be married with parental or judicial consent ^[5]. This creates a disconnect between the age of majority and marriage rights.
• The concept of "legal coherence" reveals inconsistencies where young people may be considered adults for some purposes but not others within the same state ^[4]
• Child marriage has documented negative social, economic, and health outcomes, which adds important context to why age of majority laws matter beyond simple legal technicalities ^[5]
• Policymakers are actively grappling with age-related issues, particularly concerning internet safety and online risks for young people, suggesting this is an evolving area of law ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation, as it is a straightforward inquiry about factual legal information. However, the question's framing could lead to oversimplification of a complex legal landscape. The question implies that age of majority is the primary age-related legal distinction, when in reality different legal rights and responsibilities are granted at various ages that may not correspond to the age of majority ^{[3] [4]}.

The question also doesn't acknowledge that age of majority variations affect important practical matters such as estate planning, custodial accounts, and educational decisions for students with disabilities ^{[6] [2]}, which could lead to incomplete understanding of the legal implications for families and individuals approaching these age thresholds.