In contract law, a person under the age of majority is legally called a minor.
The age of majority marks the point at which a person generally gains full legal capacity to make binding decisions and contracts. It varies by jurisdiction, commonly being 18, although some legal systems use 19, 20, or 21 for particular purposes. “Minor” is therefore a legal status whose exact boundary depends on the governing law.
A minor’s contract is often voidable rather than automatically void. This typically means the minor may disaffirm the agreement, subject to rules about timing, returned benefits, necessities, misrepresentation of age, and contracts ratified after reaching majority. Local law can create important exceptions, especially for employment, education, insurance, marriage, and essential goods or services.
A guardian is someone authorized to care for or represent another person; that person may be a minor but is not synonymous with one. Trustee describes someone managing property for beneficiaries, while “adult” generally identifies the opposite legal status. Other age thresholds—such as voting, drinking, driving, or consent ages—may differ from the age of majority.