Minderårige

Minderårige is a legal term for individuals who have not yet reached the age of majority, typically under 18 years. They are afforded special protections in many legal systems and may have limited capacity to act independently in certain matters.

In most jurisdictions, minderårige cannot enter into binding contracts without parental or guardian consent, and many acts require approval or supervision. Some places recognize emancipated minors, who have limited independence and capacity to manage their own affairs. The general rule is that decisions affecting minderårige are made in the best interests of the child or must be authorized by guardians or the state.

Rights and welfare protections for minderårige include access to education and health care, as well as protection from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Child welfare authorities can intervene when a child's safety or well-being is at risk. International and national laws emphasize safeguarding the rights and development of children.

Criminal liability for minderårige is typically treated differently from adults. There is often a minimum age of criminal responsibility, and many jurisdictions handle juvenile offenses through specialized courts, diversion programs, or rehabilitation-focused measures rather than adult punishment.

Guardianship and parental responsibility cover the management of daily affairs, education, medical decisions, and, when appropriate, the child’s property. These duties are designed to protect the minderåriges' interests until they reach the age of majority, at which point full legal capacity is attained, though emancipation may occur earlier in some systems.

Internationally, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child defines persons under 18 as children, obligating states to ensure their rights and protections. The term minderårige is common in Nordic legal and administrative contexts; in everyday language, terms like barn or ungdom are more common.