Mississippi Legal Ages

Legal ages in Mississippi

1. Age 6

   • Must be enrolled in school

     Mississippi requires attendance for children who turn 6 on or before September 1.

     A 5-year-old enrolled in full-day public kindergarten is also covered.

     Mississippi law · Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-91(2)(f)

2. Age 7

   • Car seat or booster age requirement ends

     The child car seat or booster requirement ends at age 7; after that a seat belt can be used.

     Before 7, only a child who is at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and 65 pounds can use a belt alone.

     Mississippi law · Miss. Code Ann. § 63-7-301(1)(b)

3. 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)

4. Age 15

   • Can get a learner's permit

     Mississippi issues a regular learner's permit at 15.

     Mississippi law · Miss. Code Ann. § 63-1-9; MDPS Driver Manual

5. Age 16

   • 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

     Mississippi has no intermediate license: a regular license is available at 16 after a year on a learner permit.

     The year on the permit must be free of DUI and moving violation convictions; a teen who turns 17 first may apply without completing the year.

     Mississippi law · Miss. Code Ann. § 63-1-9 (2021 HB 550); MDPS Driver Manual

6. Age 17

   • Can leave school (compulsory attendance ends)

     Mississippi's compulsory attendance requirement ends for a child who turns 17 on or before September 1.

     Mississippi law · Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-91(2)(f)

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

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

     They must be registered at least 30 days before the primary.

     Mississippi law · Miss. Code § 23-15-11 (Secretary of State 2017 compilation)

7. 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)

     For their first six months, licensed drivers under 18 need a supervising adult outside set daytime hours.

     Unsupervised driving is allowed 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; a teen licensed at 16 is free of the limit at 16 and 6 months.

     Mississippi law · Miss. Code Ann. § 63-1-21(3), as amended by Laws 2021, HB 550 (approved Apr. 5, 2021)

   • Can get a tattoo without a parent's consent

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

     Mississippi law · Miss. Code Ann. § 73-61-1(4); MSDH Rule 11.1.3 (Title 15, Part 19, Subpart 60)

   • Can make a will

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

     Mississippi law · Miss. Code Ann. 91-5-1

   • 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 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)

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

     Offenses by those 13 and older punishable by life imprisonment or death start in circuit (adult) court.

     Mississippi law · Miss. Code § 43-21-151(2) (Uniform Rules of Youth Court Practice)

8. 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)

   • Becomes a legal adult (age of majority)

     State law makes a person a legal adult for most purposes at 21.

     From 18 a person can make contracts about personal property and sue in their own name (Miss. Code 93-19-13).

     Mississippi law · Miss. Code Ann. § 1-3-27

   • Can marry without a parent's consent

     A person can marry without a parent's or court's consent at 21.

     Under 21, both parties need their parents' consent.

     Mississippi law · Miss. Code Ann. § 93-1-5(1)

   • Can be called for state jury service

     A person can be called for state jury service from age 21.

     Mississippi law · Miss. Code Ann. § 13-5-1

   • 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)

   • Can buy a lottery ticket

     Mississippi Lottery games are limited to players 21 and older.

     Mississippi law · Mississippi Lottery FAQ (Miss. Code § 27-115-73)

   • 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)

9. 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

10. Age 30

    • Can serve as governor

      Mississippi's constitution requires the governor to be at least 30 years old.

      Mississippi law · Miss. Const. art. 5, § 117

    • 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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)

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

      From age 65, a person can ask to be excused from jury service because of age.

      The statute covers citizens over 65, who must claim the exemption.

      Mississippi law · Miss. Code Ann. § 13-5-25

14. 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

15. 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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