The age of majority is the threshold of adulthood An adult is a human being or living organism that is of relatively mature age, typically associated with sexual maturity and the attainment of reproductive age. In human context, the term has other subordinate meanings associated to social and legal concepts, for example a legal adult is a legal concept for a person who has attained the age of as it is conceptualized (and recognized or declared) in law Law is a system of rules, usually enforced through a set of institutions. Laws can shape or reflect politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a primary social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus ticket to trading on derivatives markets. Property law defines rights and. It is the chronological moment when a minor The term minor is used to refer to a person who is under the age in which one legally assumes adulthood and is legally granted rights afforded to adults in society. Depending on the jurisdiction and application, this age may vary, but is usually marked at either 12, 16, 18, 20, or 21. Specifically, the status of minor is defined by the age of ceases to legally be considered a child and assumes control over their persons, actions, and decisions, thereby terminating the legal control and legal responsibilities of their parents or guardian over and for them. The word majority here refers to having greater years and being of full age; it is opposed to minority, the state of being a minor. The law in a given jurisdiction may never actually use the term "age of majority" and the term thereby refers to a collection of laws bestowing the status of adulthood. The age of majority is a legally fixed age, concept, or statutory principle, which may differ depending on the jurisdiction, and may not necessarily correspond to actual mental or physical maturity of an individual.

In practical terms, there are certain specific actions which a person who attains the age of majority is permitted to take, which they could not do before. These may include entering into a binding contract In law, a contract is an agreement between two or more parties which, if it contains the elements of a valid legal agreement, is enforceable by law or by binding arbitration. That is to say, a contract is an exchange of promises with specific legal remedies for breach. These can include Compensatory remedy, whereby the defaulting party is required, buying stocks, voting A voting age is a minimum age established by law that a person must attain to be eligible to vote in a public election. The vast majority of countries in the world have established a voting age. Most governments consider that those of no age lower than the chosen threshold lack the necessary capacity to independently decide how to cast a vote. The, buying and/or consuming alcoholic beverages The legal drinking age refers to the earliest age in a country that a person is legally allowed to buy alcoholic beverages, which may be different from the age at which they may be permitted to drink alcohol, especially in the privacy of their home. The legal drinking age varies around the world in general, from countries in Europe where people, driving motor vehicles A motor vehicle is a wheeled vehicle whose propulsion is provided by an engine or motor . The internal combustion engine is the most common motor choice, although electric motors or other types are sometimes used. Motor vehicles or road vehicles typically run on public roads. The rules of the road are laws or practices which all road users must on public roads, and marrying Marriageable age is the age at which a person is allowed to marry, either as of right or subject to parental or other forms of consent. The age and other requirements vary between countries. The marriage age should not be confused with the age of majority or the age of consent. The marriage age in a country may be below the age of majority and the without obtaining consent of others. The ages at which these various rights or powers may be exercised vary as between the various rights and as between different jurisdictions. For example, the ages at which a person may obtain a license to drive a car or consume alcoholic beverages vary considerably between and also within jurisdictions.

Although a person may attain the age of majority in a particular jurisdiction, he or she may still be subject to age-based restrictions, such as the right to stand for elective office, act as a judge, and many other matters.

Contents

Explanation

Age of majority is frequently confused with similar concept, the age of license,[citation needed] which also pertains to the threshold of adulthood but in a much broader and more abstract way. As a legal term of art, "license" means "permission", and it can implicate a legally enforceable right or privilege. Thus, an age of license is an age at which one has legal permission from government to do something. The age of maturity, on the other hand, is legal recognition that one has grown into an adult.

For example, in any jurisdiction, the age at which an individual is allowed to exercise the franchise (vote), leave school without taking a diploma, enter into legally binding contracts (other than for necessaries, to which no age of license applies), operate a motor vehicle, purchase and consume alcoholic beverages, and so on – these are all ages of license, at which the law permits an individual to perform certain acts and exercise certain rights, with or without any restrictions.

Age of majority pertains solely to the acquisition of control over one's person, decisions and actions, and the correlative termination of the legal authority and responsibility of the parents (or guardian(s), in lieu of parents) over the child’s persons and affairs generally.

Many ages of license are correlated to the age of majority, but they are nonetheless legally distinct concepts. One need not have attained the age of majority to have permission to exercise certain rights and responsibilities. Some ages of license are actually higher than the age of majority. For example, the age of license to purchase alcoholic beverages is 21 in all U.S. states. Also, the age of majority in the Republic of Ireland Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɪərlənd/ , locally [ˈaɾlənd], Irish: Éire, pronounced [ˈeːɾʲə] ( listen)), described as the Republic of Ireland (Irish: Poblacht na hÉireann), is a country in north-western Europe. The modern sovereign state occupies about five-sixths of the island of Ireland, which was partitioned into two jurisdictions in 1921 is 18, but one must be over 21 years of age to stand for election. A child who is legally emancipated Emancipation of minors is a legal mechanism by which a minor is freed from control by their parents or guardians, and the parents or guardians are freed from any and all responsibility toward the child. Until an emancipation is granted by a court, a minor is still subject to the rules of their parents or guardians by a court of competent jurisdiction automatically attains to his or her maturity upon the signing of the court order. This is distinct from the legal process by which a child might be taken into foster care and/or made a ward of the court. Foster care and court wardship do not confer maturity upon the child so separated from his or her parents (or guardians). Only emancipation confers the status of maturity before a person has actually reached the age of majority.

Almost all jurisdictions automatically confer emancipation (and with it, the status of majority) upon otherwise minor individuals who are married. Some do likewise for minors who are on active duty in the armed forces.[1] The legal limit for anyone to purchase and have full rights to that item is 14. This applies to most states in the U.S., except for three: New York, Maryland, Delaware.

Countries and subdivisions

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be and removed. (September 2009)

The following list the age of majority in countries (or administrative divisions Administrative divisions are divisions of a political division. In other words, they are designated portions of a country. They are also called subnational entities. They are each granted a certain degree of autonomy, and are required to manage themselves through their own local governments. Countries are divided up into these smaller units to) as appropriate:

Age 14

Age 15

Age 16

Age 17

Age 18

Age 19

Age 20

Age 21

References

  1. ^ Statutory and Judicial Emancipation of Minors in the United States, 2001-2002 analysis by law students of Northeastern University
  2. ^ Interpol report on Albanian law
  3. ^ Constitution of the Republic of Cuba 1992
  4. ^ Culture of Cuba - traditional, history, people, clothing, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social, marriage, men, life, population, religion, rituals, Cultural name
  5. ^ Interpol report on Kyrgyzstan
  6. ^ Interpol report on Uzbekistan law
  7. ^ Interpol report on Austria
  8. ^ Interpol report on Andorra law
  9. ^ Telam: Política - El Senado aprobó la ley de la mayoría de edad a los 18 años
  10. ^ Interpol report on Armenia
  11. ^ "The Age of Majority". Website of the Tangled Moon Coven. http://www.tangledmoon.org/majorityage.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  12. ^ Interpol report on Azerbaijan
  13. ^ Interpol report on Bahamas
  14. ^ Interpol report on Barbados
  15. ^ Interpol report on Belarus
  16. ^ Interpol report on Bosnia and Herzegovina
  17. ^ a b Susan Munroe. "Age of majority". About.com. http://canadaonline.about.com/od/canadianlaw/g/ageofmajority.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-23. "The age of majority in Canada is determined by each province and territory in Canada."
  18. ^ Interpol report on Denmark
  19. ^ Interpol report on Djibouti (in French)
  20. ^ World Law Direct, Age of Majority list
  21. ^ Indian Majority Act
  22. ^ Republic Act No. 6809, December 13, 1989, Chan Robles Law library
  23. ^ Missouri Age of Majority Law - Age of Majority - Minors
  24. ^ Age of Majority Act 1970
  25. ^ Interpol report on Bahrain
  26. ^ Ordonnance 62-041 du 19 septembre 1962 relative aux dispositions générales de droit interne et de droit international privé
  27. ^ Mississippi Age of Majority Law - Age of Majority - Minors

See also

Categories: Aging | Legal terms | Legal fictions | Statutory law | Ageism | Youth rights | Medical law

 

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