Illinois Legal Ages

Legal ages in Illinois

1. Age 2

   • Rear-facing car seat age requirement ends

     The law requires a rear-facing seat until age 2; after that a child may ride forward-facing.

     Earlier if the child weighs 40 pounds or is 40 inches tall.

     Illinois law · 625 ILCS 25/4

2. Age 6

   • Must be enrolled in school

     Illinois requires children to attend school, or approved private or home instruction, from age 6.

     Applies to children who are 6 on or before September 1.

     Illinois law · 105 ILCS 5/26-1

3. 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.

     From 8 to 15, the child must wear a seat belt.

     Illinois law · 625 ILCS 25/4

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 work (state minimum age)

     Illinois lets minors 14 and 15 work outside school hours once they have an employment certificate.

     Under 14, only explicitly allowed work such as caddying, youth sports officiating, newspaper delivery and babysitting.

     Illinois law · 820 ILCS 206/15

5. Age 15

   • Can get a learner's permit

     Illinois issues an instruction permit at 15 to teens enrolled in an approved driver education course.

     Illinois law · 625 ILCS 5/6-103(1)

6. Age 16

   • No work permit needed

     Workers under 16 in Illinois need a school-issued employment certificate.

     Illinois law · 820 ILCS 206/10, 206/35(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 graduated license for driving alone is available at 16 after nine months with a permit.

     Requires driver education and 50 hours of certified driving, 10 at night.

     Illinois law · 625 ILCS 5/6-107(b)

   • Court emancipation (adult status) can be sought

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

     Illinois law · 750 ILCS 30/3-1

   • Lowest marriage age with parent or court consent

     With both parents' consent or a judge's approval, the lowest age to marry is 16.

     Illinois law · 750 ILCS 5/203(1); 750 ILCS 5/208

   • Can pre-register to vote

     Illinois lets eligible residents pre-register to vote at 16; they can vote once they turn 18.

     Illinois law · 10 ILCS 5/3-6(b)

7. Age 17

   • Can leave school (compulsory attendance ends)

     Illinois's compulsory attendance requirement ends at the 17th birthday.

     The statute covers children "between the ages of 6 ... and 17 years," which we read as until the 17th birthday.

     Illinois law · 105 ILCS 5/26-1

   • Can vote in a primary if 18 by the general election

     Illinois lets 17-year-olds vote in a primary if they will be 18 by the general election.

     Illinois law · 10 ILCS 5/3-6(a)

8. 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)

   • Teen license limits end (varies, see rule)

     Graduated license passenger limits apply to license holders under 18.

     A conviction in the six months before the 18th birthday keeps the front-seat passenger limit in place until six violation-free months pass; the one-passenger-under-20 limit ends after 12 months or at 18, whichever comes first (625 ILCS 5/6-107(e), (g)).

     Illinois law · 625 ILCS 5/6-107(e), (g)

   • Can get a tattoo without a parent's consent

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

     Illinois law · 720 ILCS 5/12C-35

   • Becomes a legal adult (age of majority)

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

     Illinois law · 755 ILCS 5/11-1

   • Can make a will

     A person of sound mind can make a valid will at 18.

     Illinois law · 755 ILCS 5/4-1(a)

   • Can marry without a parent's consent

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

     Illinois law · 750 ILCS 5/203(1); 750 ILCS 5/208

   • 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.

     Illinois law · 705 ILCS 305/2(a)

   • 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)

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

     Illinois tries people charged with a crime in adult court by default from age 18; younger defendants start in juvenile court.

     A juvenile court can transfer some younger defendants to adult court for serious offenses.

     Illinois law · 705 ILCS 405/5-105(3)

   • Can buy a lottery ticket

     State law bars selling lottery tickets to anyone under 18.

     Illinois law · 20 ILCS 1605/15

9. 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)

   • Adult adoptee can get the original birth certificate

     An adult adoptee can request a copy of the original birth certificate from age 21.

     The non-certified copy is requested from the Illinois Adoption Registry (750 ILCS 50/18.1b(e)); a birth parent who filed a denial can have identifying information redacted from it.

     Illinois law · 750 ILCS 50/18.06

   • 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)

10. 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

    • Can serve as governor

      Illinois's constitution requires the governor to be at least 25 years old.

      Illinois law · Ill. Const. art. V, § 3

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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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