XN000022-1987-12-22 — Page 2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1987

FIRST STEPS TAKEN TO REDUCE AGE OF MAJORITY

THE FIRST STEPS HAD BEEN RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE

LAW REFORM

IN IMPLEMENTING THE REPORT ON "YOUNG SPOKESMAN GOVERNMENT

TAKEN COMMISSION'S OF AGE IN CIVIL LAN". EFFECTS PERSONS ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY).

A

HAD BEEN APPROVED IN WERE BRING MADE

THE MAJORITY OF THE REPORT'S PROPOSALS PRINCIPLE BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND PREPARATIONS FOR AMENDING LEGISLATION TO BE DRAFTED TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES.

THE EFFECT OF ADOPTING THE COMMISSION'S PROPOSALS GENERAL TO REDUCE THE AGE OF MAJORITY FROM 21 TO 18.

WILL BE IN

WILL HE WILL ONCE HE

ONCE THE COMMISSION'S PROPOSALS ARE IMPLEMENTED, A PERSON BE ABLE TO MAKE A VALID WILL AT THE AGE OF 18 INSTEAD OF 21.

ENTERED CONTRACTS ALSO BE FULLY LIABLE BECOMES

18.

AT

LAW

FOR

INTO

CANNOT BE ENFORCED 21 TO 18 ENTER INTO BINDING

CONTRACTS (SUBJECT TO CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS) AGAINST A MINOR. THE REDUCTION OF THE AGE OF MAJORITY FROM

THOSE OVER 18 ΤΟ WILL MAKE IT CONTRACTS.

POSSIBLE

FOR

MAJORITY

TO

OTHER EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSED REDUCTION IN THE AGE OF INCLUDE THE FACT THAT CUSTODY AND WARDSHIP ORDERS WILL NOT BE ABLE BE MADE IN RESPECT OF PERSONS WHO HAVE ATTAINED 18 YEARS OF AGE.

IT IS ALSO INTENDED TO LOWER FROM 21 TO 18 THE AGE AT PERSON MAY BECOME A COMPANY DIRECTOR.

WHICH

HOWEVER,

DOES NOT INTEND TO

ADOPT

THE

IN

APRIL

THE 1986,

PERSON

COMMISSION MAY MARRY

THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION'S VIEW ON THREE MATTERS.

IN ITS REPORT, PUBLISHED FAVOURED REDUCING FROM 21 TO 18 THE AGE AT WHICH A WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT.

FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE PUBLIC

THE CONSULTATION,

GOVERNMENT THE MAJORITY SATISFIED THAT SUCH A CHANGE WOULD BE CONTRARY TO AND DECIDED TO LEAVE THE EXISTING RESTRICTION UNALTERED.

ON THE MAXIMUM AGE AT

BE ADOPTED,

WAS VIEW

THE THE

WHICH A PERSON MAY

THE AGE OF 21 YEARS. RETAINING COMMISSION'S REPORT FAVOURED

1N LINE WITH GOVERNMENT NOW PROPOSES TO REDUCE THAT AGE TO 18 YEARS

PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS THE GENERAL TENOR OF THE PACKAGE OF

AT 18 RATHER THAN WHICH WILL GRANT FULL LEGAL CAPACITY TO A PERSON THE PRESENT AGE OF 21.

THAT ADOPTION WAS APPROPRIATE THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID

WAS NOW TO BE ONLY IN RESPECT OF MINORS AND IF THE AGE OF MAJORITY

TO DO REDUCED TO 18 IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES, IT WOULD BE ANOMALOUS NOT THE SAME IN RESPECT OF THE AGE OF ADOPTION.

/ONE OTHER