1. Legal Capacity to Contract
Business Law: Ch 9

2. What is Capacity
Contractual Capacity – Ability to understand the consequences of a contract
Does not require that a person understand the actual terms of the contract

3. Lack Some Capacity Three groups lacking some capacity Minors
Intoxicated
Mentally Impaired

4. Minors In Ohio the age of majority is 18
Minors – Under the age of majority
In Ohio the age of majority is 18
Ends the day before the birthday of the age

5. Protecting those lacking capacity
Contracts of those lacking capacity are voidable
Disaffirmance – Protection granted to those lacking capacity
In contract law it means a refusal to be bound by a previous legal commitment
When a protected party disaffirms a contract, by law the protected party is to receive whatever they have put into the contract
The other party may or may not get back their consideration

6. Disaffirm
Example – A protected party bought a four-wheel ATV from a dealership and then wrecked it. You can disaffirm the contract and recover any payments made.
The dealership would only be able to recover the damaged ATV

7. Necessities Necessities – things needed to maintain life
The protected must at least pay a reasonable value for the necessities even if they disaffirm the actual purchase contract

8. Minors Contracts are considered voidable (may get out of)
May also disaffirm for a reasonable length of time after achieving the age of majority.
After majority, the power to disaffirm is immediately cut off if you ratify the contract
Minors also may find themselves bound to their contract if they are Emancipated

9. Emancipated Emancipated – Severing the parent-child relationship
Ends the duty of the parent to support a child and the duty of the child to obey their parent
Upon reaching the age of majority you are emancipated

10. Emancipated Formal emancipation Informal emancipated
Court decrees the minor emancipated
Informal emancipated
Arises from the conduct of the parent and minor

11. Informal Emancipated
The parent and minor agree that the parent will cease support
The minor marries
The minor moves out of the family home
The minor becomes a member of the armed forces
The minor gives birth
The minor undertakes full-time employment

12. Mentally Incapacitated
Mentally Incapacitated - A person lacks the ability to understand the consequences of his or her contract
If permanently Insane – Contract is Void
Temporary Insane – Contract is Voidable

13. Intoxicated
Does the person have the ability to understand the consequences
Courts typically allow disaffirmance only for those who are so temporarily intoxicated that they do not even know they are contracting
Stricter because intoxication is a voluntary act
If a person is in a permanent state of intoxication – Contract is void

14. Who has contractual capacity in organizations
Scope of Authority – has capacity to contract
People acting outside the scope of authority, are personally liable when the organization isn’t

15. 9-1 Assessment
Turn to page 161 and complete the 9-1 Assessment Questions

16. 9-1 Assessment
False
True B

17. 9-1 Assessment
Probably not. Clare purchased necessaries so she cannot disaffirm. If she paid more than the reasonable value, she would receive the excess back.
No. Courts do allow a reasonable period of time after entering majority to evaluate the contracts made during minority. However, five months is far too long. Making her monthly payments beyond a month or two would be ratification.

18. When can disaffirmance occur
Disaffirmance – can happen:
Any time still under the incapacity
Within a reasonable time after attaining capacity
After attaining capacity, a person can ratify their contract
Ratification – Action by the party indicating intent to be bound by the contract

19. Ratification
For a minor, ratification must occur after achieving majority.
Ratification may consist of:
Giving a new promise to perform as agreed
Any act (such as making a payment) that clearly indicates the party’s intention to be bound

20. What must be done upon disaffirming
When a minor disaffirms, anything of value the minor received and still has must be returned.
The minor is entitled to get back everything that was given to the other party.

21. Contracts that cannot be disaffirmed
Court approved contracts
Major commitments – armed services, educational loans
Banking contract
Insurance Contracts
Work Related Contracts
Sales of Realty
Apartment rental

22. Misrepresenting Age
Minors who lie about their age may disaffirm contracts
However, they are liable for the tort of false representation

23. 9-2 Assessment
Turn to page 165 and complete the 8 questions