Abandonment
A minor's surrender of the special protection given to him or her by the law
Age of Majority
Statutory legal age
contractual capacity
The ability of a party to make a contract
competent party
A person of legal age and normal mentality who is capable of understanding the meaning of a contract
disaffirmance
The act of canceling a voidable contract
emancipation
The state of a minor who has married and/or left home that renders the minor responsible for his or her contracts
incompetency
Legal incapacity to make a binding contract
minor
A person who has not yet reached the age of majority
necessaries
Items considered essential for a person's well-being, such as food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and employment
ratification
Affirming or agreeing to, the terms of a contract entered into previously
Legal Birthday
12:01am the day before a persons actual birthday
Minors are responsible for
necessary contracts
Contract with a minor
can be ratified only by the minor
Upon reaching legal age
minor has a reasonable amount of time to ratify or disaffirm a contract
Minors are still held liable for their
torts and crimes
contracts made while a person is intoxicated are voidable by
the person who was intoxicated at the time
a competent party is
a person of legal age and at least normal mentality
contract made by an intoxicated person must be
ratified within a reasonable amount of time
upon marriage
a minor is considered emancipated, and hence responsible for his or her contracts
the responsibility of determining whether or not a person is competent rests with
anyone who enters into a contract with the person
To be effective the ratification of a minor's contract must be
in writing
in some states even if a minor has misrepresented themselves
they can still avoid the contract
A contract ratification
must apply to the entire contract