Legal Aspects of Adulthood

Legally adulthood means that one can engage in, or be a party to, a contract. The same or a different minimum age may be applicable to:

• parents losing parenting rights and duties regarding the person concerned,
• parents no longer being financial responsible for the child,
• marriage, (although individuals normally considered to be children can obtain legal permission from parents to be married)
• voting,
• having a job, (although some limited jobs are allowed to be held by children if the work doesnt interfere with schooling)
• being a soldier,
• buying/possessing firearms (if legal at all),
• driving,
• traveling abroad, (although infants and children often travel with parents or chaperones)
• involvement with alcoholic beverages (if legal at all),
• smoking,
• sex,
• gambling (both lottery and casino)
• being a prostitute or a client of a prostitute (if legal at all),
• being a model or actor in pornography, etc.

One can distinguish the legality of acts of a young person, and of enabling a young person to carry out that act, by selling, renting out, showing, permitting entrance, participating, etc. There may be distinction between commercially and socially enabling. Sometimes there is the requirement of supervision by a legal guardian, or just by an adult. Sometimes there is no requirement, but just a recommendation.

With regard to films with violence, etc.:

• another person being allowed to sell, rent out, or show the young person the film, a cinema being allowed to let the young person (under 18) enter

• Adulthood and Jewish and Christian Tradition

• Age of majority around the world

• Adults and Pornography