How can a 16 year old sign a legally binding contract?

[lonestarnot]

Apparently happens in Indiana and Illinois.

[Justice wanted]

1. I don't think a 16 year old can in the United States.

[lonestarnot]

2. CNN was reporting on a place called Pinehaven MT, a place where children who apparently

were juvenille delinquents as young as 16 signed "legally binding contracts" to go there and they can't be removed even after so many reports of abuse including rape.

[msanthrope]

5. You mean a plea deal reached after being found delinquent?

That's not a civil contract per se, but a legally-binding criminal negotiation.

[lonestarnot]

7. No. A legally binding contract. That was part of the issue in the report, that and the abuse.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. See definition of "emancipated minor". n/t

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. Emancipated minors in most jurisdictions can have contracts enforced against them

It usually requires a court decree freeing the minor from parental control. Who is trying to void the contract? If the minor wants to enforce the contract, they probably can in general unless fraud was involved such as age misrepresentation. Some jurisdictions uphold contracts against even unemancipated minors where fraud was involved.

[lonestarnot]

8. These kids are delinquent kids who signed contracts to go to a "christian private facility." They

want to break the contract I would imagine.

[salvorhardin]

6. That's not true for Indiana

Last edited Sat Aug 4, 2012, 12:25 AM - Edit history (1)

IC 26-1-3.1-305 Defenses and claims in recoupment
    Sec. 305. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the right to enforce the obligation of a party to pay an instrument is subject to the following:
      (1) a defense of the obligor based on:
            (A) infancy of the obligor to the extent it is a defense to a simple contract;
Source: http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title26/ar1/ch3.1.html

IC 1-1-4-5 Definitions applicable to construction of all Indiana statutes
   Sec. 5. The following definitions apply to the construction of all Indiana statutes, unless the construction is plainly repugnant to the intent of the general assembly or of the context of the statute:
        (1) "Adult", "of full age", and "person in his majority" mean a person at least eighteen (18) years of age.

..

        (8) "Infant" or "minor" means a person less than eighteen (18) years of age.
Source: http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title1/ar1/ch4.html

Do you have a primary source that says otherwise?

[lonestarnot]

9. CNN LOL.

That is what they reported.