A minor does not have the "capacity" to enter a contract. The law is written to protect minors from being taken advantage of through unfair contracts. However, through time there have been controversial situations and now minors can be held partially liable in some cases.
If a minor signs a contract under the legal age of majority (usually 18), the contract is typically not enforceable. In most cases, the parents would not be responsible for the contract unless they co-signed or guaranteed it. The minor may have the option to void the contract.
An obligation to pay a debt is usually by contract. A contract by a minor is "voidable" meaning that it can be invalidated. However, it is not void. The difference is sometimes important because if a contract is void then someone could never be held accountable. A contract by a minor however, may later be ratified (acknowledged as valid) by that invididual. Ratifying the contract then makes the person legally responsible. If the person who signed the contract as minor does not want to be held legally responsible, he or she must formally rebuke that contract.
You can enter into a legally binding contract as a minor, and without parental consent. The upshot is, that as a minor you may freely dissolve the contract as long as it's fully dissolved. So you could not hire an item, then claim the contract is void and keep the item. You would still have to return whatever you rented.
If a minor enters into a contract, the law will allow the minor to "void" the contract. The law gives the minor the power to choose whether s/he wants to honor the contract or avoid the obligation. Therefore a person of any age old enough to sign the contract could rent a house. That is according to the landlord-tenant agreement laws of Maryland. Hope I helped you.
In North Carolina, a person must be at least 18 years old to sign a legal contract, with some exceptions for emancipated minors or contracts for necessaries. A minor who signs a contract before turning 18 may have the option to disaffirm or void the contract upon reaching the age of majority.
Rules regarding minor's agreement:1. No ratificationAn agreement with the minor is completely void. A minor cannot ratify the agreement even on attaining majority, because a void agreement cannot be ratified.2. Minor can be a promise or beneficiaryIf a contract is beneficiary to a minor it can be enforced by him. There is no restriction on a minor from bring a beneficiary.3. No estoppel against a minorWhere a minor by misrepresenting his age has induced the other party enter into a contract with him, he cannot be made liable on the contract. There can be no estoppel against a minor.4. No Specific performance except in certain casesA minor's contract being absolutely void, there can be no question of the specific performance of such contract.5. Liability for tortsA trot is a civil wrong. A minor is liable in tort unless the tort in reality is a breach of contract.6. No insolvencyA minor cannot be declared insolvent as he is incapable of contracting debts and dues are payable from the personal properties of minor and he is not personally liable.7. Minor can be an agentA minor can act as an agent. But he will not to be liable to his principal for his acts. A minor can draw, deliver and endorse negotiable instruments without himself being liable.
In Georgia, a minor cannot sign a contract. If a minor does sign a contract, it is voidable because it is illegal.
A minor does not have the absolute right to void a contract. As a general rule, contracts made by minors are voidable by the minor at any time up until the minor affirms the contract after reaching majority or until a reasonable times after reaching majority. There are cases where a minor can be held liable for his/her actions if at the time the contract was entered they acted in a responsible and adult-like that proves they were of a capacity to understand the contract. However, the burdon to prove that the minor was actually of capacity falls on the other parties in the contract.
vacuum or void
The minor can void the contract. If they affirm it after they become an adult, it would become valid.
agreement made by minor is void-ab-initio minor can't be declared insolvent rule of estoppel is not applicable on minor minor can be promisee or a beneficiary doctrine of restitution is not applicable on minor
If a minor signs a contract under the legal age of majority (usually 18), the contract is typically not enforceable. In most cases, the parents would not be responsible for the contract unless they co-signed or guaranteed it. The minor may have the option to void the contract.
Yes, in general, if money is paid under a void contract it must be returned. For example, if a minor voids an optional contract for which money has been paid to a minor, the money must be returned to the minor. The minor may be required to return anything of value received under the voided contract.
If the laws materially affect the contract, yes. If the affect is minor, it would not void the contract, but may require some renegotiation.
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Traditionally, a minor or an infant is anyone under the age of 21. This has been changed by statutes in almost every state, and a minor is now anyone under the age of 18. The term infant and minor are used interchangeably in most situations. A minor can only void a contract while they are still under the age of maturity (again, usually 18), or for a reasonable time after they have reached that age. If a person does nothing to disaffirm the contract after they stop being a minor, the law can find that they will no longer be able to void the contract
Likely yes. Under general contract law principles, it is a valid contract and fully enforceable by the minor if the minor does not choose to void it. Which is why many businesses will not enter into contracts with a minor.