Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last updated June 20, 2016
Minors are those under the age of 18 (in most states), and therefore lack the rights and responsibilities of adulthood. But while minors do not have quite the same legal status as adults, they still need access to the law every once in a while. State legal age laws address these needs, such as the ability to consent to birth control or drug treatment, or to petition the court for emancipation.
According to North Dakota statute, minors may sue and be sued in a court of law, but must be represented by an appointed guardian ad litem. Minors also may consent to emergency medical care, while those 14 and older may consent to drug abuse or treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Emancipation is possible, but North Dakota does not provide an administrative framework for the process.
Additional provisions of North Dakota laws setting legal ages for minors are listed in the following table.
| Age of Majority | 18 (§14-10-01) |
| Eligibility for Emancipation | Marriage (§14-09-20); a child or their legal representative may file a petition in court, but there is no statutory framework for emancipation Generally, a child must be at least 16, already living apart from his or her parents, be sufficiently mature, and able to support him or herself financially |
| Contracts by Minors | May be disaffirmed upon age of majority or within 1 year thereafter; exception contract for reasonable value of necessary support or a statutory contract; cannot make contracts re personal or real property not in immediate possession or control, otherwise may contract subject to disaffirmance (14-10-09 et seq.) |
| Minors' Ability to Sue | May sue or be sued, but court must appoint guardian ad litem (14-10-04) |
| Minors' Consent to Medical Treatment | Any minor may consent to emergency medical care (§14-10-17.1). Minors 14 or older may consent to treatment for venereal disease or substance abuse (§14-10-17). |
Note: State laws tend to change quite regularly, often through the enactment of newly signed legislation but sometimes through higher court decisions and other means. You also may want to contact a North Dakota family law attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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