Civil Majority

The civil majority or legal majority or simply majority is the age to which an individual is juridically regarded as civilly able and responsible, i.e. primarily the age to which it is able to engage in the bonds of a contract or another legal document (except exception).

Before this date, the individual is known as " minor ". A minor can be owner or be committed in the bonds of a contract, but it cannot have its property freely nor to only engage in theory.

According to the times, the authority on the minor was exerted by the father or the parents jointly. In the absence of relative, one grants a tutor to him who has as a role to preserve the interests of the child.

The minor is known as " irresponsable" civilly. This concept is distinct from penal irresponsibility , related to the protection of youth.

In France, the civil majority is fixed at 18 years since 1974; it was fixed before at 21 years.

In Belgium, the civil majority is fixed at 18 years since May 1st 1990; it was fixed before at 21 years. Civil code - Art 488 (Law of the 1/19/1990).

In Swiss, the civil majority is fixed at 18 years since January 1st 1996.

With the Quebec, the legislative council of the province fixes the age of the majority at 21 years instead of 25 in 1782. Then, in 1971, the age of the majority passes from 21 to 18 years.

There is no bond with the Right to vote which is a distinct question related to the Droits policies.
The civil majority is to be distinguished from the matrimonial Majorité and the sexual Majorité.

External bonds

important Dates of the history of the civil law of Quebec

Random links: