Also known as: full-age · age of majority · majority · legal age
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
An age, typically eighteen years, at which a person attains full legal rights and capacity to engage in legal acts such as contracting or making donative transfers.
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Felix Franco turned eighteen and decided to carry out a planned theft. He purchased tools and scouted the target location. Once he entered the building with intent to steal, the overt act triggered attempt liability despite any later change of mind.
Forrest Falconer reached full age and signed a land contract to buy a warehouse. Before closing the building burned down. Under the majority rule Forrest bore the loss and remained obligated to complete the purchase.
Francois Fortier attained full age and registered to vote. His state appointed electors who cast ballots for president. The process followed the constitutional allocation of electoral votes among the states.
Felicity French reached full age and became a shareholder. The board later considered a derivative claim. A majority of qualified directors present at a quorum meeting voted to dismiss the suit after a reasonable inquiry.
Farah Fox reached the age of majority and executed a will leaving her estate to a friend. Because she had attained full age the instrument was valid and not subject to the incapacity rules that apply to minors.
Finn Fletcher reached full age and challenged his state's redistricting map. Race had predominated in drawing the lines and subordinated traditional districting principles. The plan failed strict scrutiny and was invalidated.
Full age is the age of majority, which statutes in most states set at eighteen. A person who has reached that age possesses full legal capacity for acts such as making wills and contracts.
Supporting sources
Reaching full age allows a person to ratify or disaffirm certain prior transactions such as gifts made while a minor. Ratification may occur by conduct or express statement after majority.
Supporting sources
A person of full age has capacity to make valid wills and gifts. Instruments executed before reaching full age are void or voidable depending on the type of transfer.
…The facial invalidity of the Texas abortion laws does not require that all state abortion laws be invalidated. Pp. 166-167. Majority opinion Opinion of Blackmun, J. We forthwith acknowledge our awareness of the sensitive and emotional nature of the abortion controversy, of the vigorous opposing views, even among…