Georgia Legal Ages

Legal ages in Georgia

1. Age 6

   • Must be enrolled in school

     Georgia requires children to attend school, or approved private or home instruction, from the 6th birthday.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1(a)

2. Age 8

   • Car seat or booster age requirement ends

     The child car seat or booster requirement ends at age 8; after that a seat belt can be used.

     Earlier if the parent can show the child is over 4 feet 9 inches tall.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 40-8-76(b)(1)

3. Age 12

   • Can work (state minimum age)

     Georgia bars work in any gainful occupation by minors under 12.

     Farm work, domestic service in private homes and some listed jobs are exempt. Federal law sets 14 for most employers.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 39-2-9

4. Age 14

   • Can work limited hours in non-hazardous jobs (federal rule)

     Federal law lets 14- and 15-year-olds work in permitted non-hazardous jobs, outside school hours and within weekly hour limits.

     Limits: no more than 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week; 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week when school is out; only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day) (29 C.F.R. 570.35).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can make a will

     A person of sound mind can make a valid will at 14.

     The person must not lack capacity or freedom of action.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. 53-4-10

5. Age 15

   • Can get a learner's permit

     Georgia issues a Class CP learner's permit at 15 after a knowledge test.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 40-5-24; Georgia DDS

6. Age 16

   • Can leave school (compulsory attendance ends)

     Georgia's compulsory attendance requirement ends at the 16th birthday.

     Attendance also ends once a student completes all requirements for a high school diploma.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1(a)

   • No work permit needed

     Workers ages 12 to 15 in Georgia need a school-issued employment certificate.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 39-2-11(A)

   • Can work any non-hazardous job (federal rule)

     At 16, the general federal minimum working age applies: any job except those the Labor Department declares hazardous.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can get a first license to drive alone

     A Class D provisional license for driving alone is available at 16 after holding a permit for a year and a day.

     Requires completing Joshua's Law driver education and supervised driving requirements.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 40-5-24; Georgia DDS

   • Court emancipation (adult status) can be sought

     A minor can petition a court to be declared emancipated starting at age 16.

     The child files the petition.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 15-11-720(a)

7. Age 17

   • Lowest marriage age with parent or court consent

     With proof of emancipation (parental consent alone is not enough), the lowest age to marry is 17.

     The older party can be no more than 4 years older, and 15 days must pass after emancipation.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2(b)

   • Charged as an adult by default (juvenile court age ends)

     Georgia tries people charged with a crime in adult court by default from age 17; younger defendants start in juvenile court.

     Serious violent felonies (the "seven deadly sins") by 13- to 16-year-olds start in superior (adult) court.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 15-11-2(10)(B) (Criminal Justice Coordinating Council)

8. Age 17 and 6 months

   • Can pre-register to vote

     Georgia lets residents register to vote at 17 and 6 months; they must be 18 to vote.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 21-2-216 (Secretary of State)

9. Age 18

   • Can work in jobs federal law calls hazardous

     At 18, the federal bar on jobs the Labor Department declares hazardous for minors ends for non-farm work.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can get a tattoo without a parent's consent

     Tattooing is allowed from 18; the ban on tattooing minors ends at that age.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 16-5-71(a); Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 511-3-8-.05

   • Becomes a legal adult (age of majority)

     State law makes a person a legal adult, with full rights to contract and sue, at 18.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 39-1-1(a)

   • Can marry without a parent's consent

     A person can marry without a parent's or court's consent at 18.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2(a)(2)

   • Adult adoptee can get the original birth certificate

     An adult adoptee born in Georgia can request a copy of the original birth certificate from age 18.

     The copy cannot be used for legal identification.

     Georgia law · Ga. SB 100 (2025); Georgia Department of Public Health

   • Can vote

     The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to vote at 18 in every federal, state and local election.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. amend. XXVI, § 1

   • Must register with Selective Service (men)

     Men 18 through 25 who are U.S. citizens or live in the United States must register with the Selective Service System.

     Men admitted on a nonimmigrant visa are exempt while they keep that status (50 U.S.C. 3802(a)).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 50 U.S.C. § 3802(a)

   • Can be called for state jury service

     A person can be called for state jury service from age 18.

     Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 15-12-60(a)-(c)

   • Can be called for federal jury service

     Federal courts may call U.S. citizens 18 or older who have lived in the judicial district for a year.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 28 U.S.C. § 1865(b)(1)

   • Can buy a lottery ticket

     Georgia Lottery games are limited to players 18 and older.

     Georgia law · Georgia Lottery Player FAQs (O.C.G.A. § 50-27-23(d))

10. Age 21

    • Can drive a commercial truck across state lines

      Federal rules require drivers of commercial vehicles in interstate commerce to be at least 21.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 49 C.F.R. § 391.11(b)(1)

    • Can buy tobacco or vapes

      Federal law bars any retailer from selling cigarettes, vapes or other tobacco products to anyone under 21, in every state.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 21 U.S.C. § 387f(d)(5)

    • Can buy alcohol

      Federal highway funding law withholds funds from any state that lets anyone under 21 buy alcohol or possess it in public, so every state sets 21.

      Federal rules let states exempt possession (not purchase) for a religious purpose, with a parent, spouse or legal guardian 21 or older, for medical use, in private clubs, or in lawful employment (23 C.F.R. 1208.3).

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 23 U.S.C. § 158(a)

    • Under-21 credit card limits end (no cosigner or independent income needed)

      Under 21, a card issuer may open a credit card only with a cosigner or proof that you can repay on your own.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 15 U.S.C. § 1637(c)(8)

11. Age 25

    • Can serve in the U.S. House

      The Constitution sets 25 as the minimum age for the U.S. House of Representatives.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 2, cl. 2

12. Age 30

    • Can serve in the U.S. Senate

      The Constitution sets 30 as the minimum age for the U.S. Senate.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 3, cl. 3

13. Age 35

    • Can serve as President

      The Constitution sets 35 as the minimum age for President.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. II, § 1, cl. 5

14. Age 62

    • Can start Social Security retirement benefits (reduced)

      Social Security retirement benefits can start at 62, permanently reduced.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Retirement Benefits: Benefit reduction for early retirement

15. Age 65

    • Eligible for Medicare by age

      Medicare hospital insurance by age begins at 65 for people entitled, or who would be entitled, to Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 42 U.S.C. § 426(a)

16. Age 67

    • Full Social Security retirement age (born 1960 or later)

      Full Social Security retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Full Retirement and Age 62 Benefit By Year Of Birth

17. Age 70

    • Can ask to be excused from jury service because of age

      From age 70, a person can ask to be excused from jury service because of age.

      The request is made in writing to the clerk with an affidavit.

      Georgia law · O.C.G.A. § 15-12-1.1(b)

18. Age 73

    • Retirement-account minimum withdrawals begin

      Required minimum distributions from traditional retirement accounts begin at 73 for people who turn 72 after 2022.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(9)(C)(v)

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