{"id":372490,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:53","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/family-laws\/details-on-state-minors-and-the-law.html"},"modified":"2017-09-29T17:09:42","modified_gmt":"2017-09-29T22:09:42","slug":"details-on-state-minors-and-the-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/family-laws\/details-on-state-minors-and-the-law.html","title":{"rendered":"Details on State Minors and the Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Details on State Minors and the Law<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

The law only recognizes as legal the acts of persons who possess the capacity to form the proper intent<\/a> to perform the particular acts. Two aspects of "capacity" are recognized: the mental capacity to form the intent to commit an act, and maturity, or the roughly objective measure of the ability to form a legal intent. It is maintained that when a child reaches a certain age his or her capacity to form the proper intent matures. At this point a child can be held accountable for his or her actions.<\/p>\n

The age at which every person is considered an adult is known as the "age of majority" and is usually 18 years old. In addition, some states allow minors who are living apart from their parents and supporting themselves to be "emancipated." This means that the minor will be treated as an adult for legal purposes. The minimum age for majority<\/a> or emancipation is sometimes set out in statutes, but is frequently determined by the common law.<\/p>\n

The Emancipation Process<\/h2>\n

A minor can become emancipated<\/a> in the following ways:<\/p>\n