mental incompetence
Inability to reason
Mental incompetence is the legal or clinical determination that a person lacks the capacity to manage their own affairs, make sound decisions, or understand the consequences of their actions.
Courts may declare someone mentally incompetent to stand trial, sign contracts, or handle finances.
The judge ruled that mental incompetence prevented him from understanding the charges against him.
The standard varies by jurisdiction and context—someone incompetent to manage money might still be competent to make medical decisions.
- memory lossFailure to recall
- cognitive declineWorsening of thought abilities
- guardianshipLegal care of another
- dementiaChronic cognitive impairment
- schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
Down syndrome · autism spectrum disorder · bipolar disorder · unsound mind · undue influence · major depressive disorder · anxiety disorder · fetal alcohol syndrome · intellectual disability · informed consent · decision making · fiduciary duty · lucid interval · impaired judgment · insanity defense · brain injury · non compos mentis · stare
- contract defectsduress, fraud, misrepresentation, mistake, nullity
- guardianship lawlegal guardian, legal guardianship, conservatorship, ward of court, legal capacity
- legal defensesself-defense, alibi, affirmative defense, insanity defense, insanity
- criminal defensesinsanity plea, insanity defense, legal insanity, diminished capacity, irresistible impulse
mental incompetencemental competence
Soundness of reasoning ability
mental capacity · mental fitness · sound mind · competence · intellectual capacity
mental incompetencecompetency
Sufficient ability for something
legal capacity · compos mentis · mental competency · decision-making capacity · of sound mind
mental incompetencesound judgment
Wise decision-making ability
good judgment · discernment · prudence · sagacity · wisdom
mental, mentality, mentally, mentalist, incompetent, incompetently, competence, competent, competently