age of majority
Threshold of adulthood
The age of majority is the legally recognized threshold of adulthood, when a person gains full legal rights and responsibilities.
In most jurisdictions this is eighteen, though it varies by country.
Reaching the age of majority typically means one can vote, sign contracts, marry without parental consent, and be tried as an adult in court.
She inherited the trust fund upon reaching the age of majority.
Formally registering a choice
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- taxesMandatory government payments
- jury dutyRequired courtroom participation
suffrage · citizenship · employment · career · marriage · parenthood · mortgage · renting
Independent decision-making capacity
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
- freedomAbsence of constraint
self-determination · agency · empowerment · self-governance · liberation · enfranchisement · self-support · leaving home
Youth becoming adulthood
- rite of passageTransition-marking ceremony
- bar mitzvahJewish adulthood ceremony
- bat mitzvahFemale Jewish adulthood rite
- quinceañeraFifteenth birthday celebration
sweet sixteen · confirmation · debutante · sunrise ceremony · first job · college entrance · driver's license
voting
Formally registering a choice
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- taxesMandatory government payments
jury duty · suffrage · citizenship · employment · career · marriage · parenthood · mortgage · renting · graduation
autonomy
Independent decision-making capacity
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
freedom · self-determination · agency · empowerment · self-governance · liberation · enfranchisement · self-support · leaving home · financial independence
coming-of-age
Youth becoming adulthood
- rite of passageTransition-marking ceremony
- bar mitzvahJewish adulthood ceremony
- bat mitzvahFemale Jewish adulthood rite
quinceañera · sweet sixteen · confirmation · debutante · sunrise ceremony · first job · college entrance · driver's license
- age-related termsretirement age, driving age, drinking age, voting age, legal age
- life stagesbaby, teenager, adult, childhood, adolescence
- age limitsage limit, age requirement, age threshold, age restriction, legal age
- juvenile justicejuvenile court, juvenile hall, juvenile detention, juvenile courts, youth court
- special educationspecial education, special ed, special needs, IEP, IEPs
- youth rightschild protection, child custody, child labor laws, child support, juvenile justice