How old do you have to be to be a witness in the US court?

Answer 1

You may be called to court at any age the judge deems reasonable. You may start an action or be sued in most courts at 18. If you are younger than 18, you will need an adult to begin the action and to represent your interests.

Answer 2

To attend a session of court as an observer, you do not need to be 18. To appear as a principal in a case, you are not considered to be legally competent until you reach the age of majority in your state. Until you reach that age you may not bring, or be the recipient of, a civil suit.

Answer 3

(in the US) This cannot be answered with a specific age. Individual judges have the authority to control the age at which children are allowed in their courtroom or attend a court hearing.

In family court hearings re: custody or divorce matters, minors are almost always excluded.

Answer 4

The legal "age of reason or understanding" is generally set at 7 years of age. However it would probably have to be an extraordinary case for a judge to allow someone of a young age to testify.

It is not unusual for minors to be excluded from the courtroom, even as spectators, until they are at least a certain age.. . . what age that is usually determined by the individual judge hearing the case.

In divorce and/or custody cases the judge will NEVER ask a child to testify either for or against either parent and although some MAY ask if the child about their feelings on the subject, they do not have to and in the end the judge will make the decision regardless of how the child(ren) may feel about it.

Answer 5

We are not sure what you mean by "speak up." Generally a judge decides who may testify and who may not. Age is not a factor, although age-related issues might be.

Answer 6

There is no legal age to go to court. Of course, it all depends on the circumstance and you are either tried as an adult or a child. However, anyone can go to court!

Answer 7

There is no specific age requirement for viewing most court cases, but you must be old enough to be quiet and not disrupt proceedings.

Answer 8

their is no actual answer but they must be mature