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Law Issues
Adulthood - Rights and Responsiblities
by Russell A. Fowler, Esq.
rfowler@winchesterlaw.com
The high school class of 2004 has recently graduated and in commencement addresses across the country, graduates were counseled and encouraged about what the future holds. These graduates are faced not only with the ritual passage from high school to the independence of college or career. They also are confronted with the legal realities of "adulthood" that come with the reaching the age of majority. It is important that these young adults understand the rights bestowed, and the responsibilities thrust, upon them and recognize that each can expect to be held fully accountable for his or her actions as adult members of society.
Among the legal rights bestowed upon each of these young adults are: the right to vote; the right to authorize one's own medical care and treatment; the right to enter into a binding contract to lease or purchase a home, to borrow money, or to provide or purchase services; and the right to marry.
Responsibilities include the basic obligation to support one's self and one's family and to contribute to one's community through jury service and other civic involvement. Young men are required to register with the selective service.
There is increased accountability beginning at age 18. A young adult charged with a criminal infraction will be tried as an adult, and, if convicted, will be sentenced as an adult, perhaps to a term in jail or prison, depending on the severity of the offense. A disagreement regarding contractual obligations, property rights or timely payments of debts may result in involvement as a party to a civil law suit.
Reliable information regarding adult rights and responsibilities is useful at any age, but is particularly valuable to those who only recently have achieved adult status. The Virginia State Bar and the Conference of Local Bar Associations offer an informative handbook titled "So You're 18", originally published by the Virginia Lawyer's Auxiliary. This handbook provides an excellent summary of the rights and responsibilities of young adults and addresses many issues of importance to those in transition from adolescence to adulthood. This publication is available through the Virginia State Bar web site at www.vsb.org/clba.
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P.C. All rights reserved. No copyright claim to the referenced text
prepared by the Virginia State Bar. The preceding article is general
in nature and is not legal advice, which you should obtain from
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