Who is considered a minor in legal terms?

In legal terms, a minor is generally defined as an individual who is under 18 years of age. This age is recognized in many jurisdictions, including Arkansas, as the threshold for legal adulthood. At this age, individuals may gain the ability to enter into contracts, vote, and engage in other legal activities independently. The age of 18 is significant because it marks the transition to responsibility for one’s actions under the law, allowing an individual to be treated as an adult in legal situations.

Other options are limited in their definitions. For example, stating an individual under 16 years of age does not encompass all minors, since many individuals aged 16 or 17 are still legally considered minors. Options referring to full-time students or those without a job are not applicable or relevant to the legal definition of a minor, as one’s educational status or employment does not influence their legal classification as a minor. Thus, it is the age of 18 that universally defines the boundary between minor and adult in legal contexts.