Which statement accurately reflects the role of minors in agency law?

Which statement accurately reflects the role of minors in agency law?

• A. Minors may act as agents but cannot form contracts
• B. Minors cannot act as agents
• C. Minors may act as principals
• D. Minors may form contracts as agents

Answer: (A)

In agency law, the ability to act as an agent is separate from the ability to form contracts personally. A minor can be appointed to represent a principal and, when acting within the agent’s authority, can bind the principal to contracts with third parties. The contract that results from the agent’s actions is between the principal and the third party, not the agent, so the minor isn’t personally bound by that contract. However, because minors generally lack capacity to contract, any contract the minor attempts to form in their own name would be voidable by the minor. So a minor can serve as an agent to facilitate binding contracts for a principal, but the minor cannot form contracts in their own right.

In agency law, the ability to act as an agent is separate from the ability to form contracts personally. A minor can be appointed to represent a principal and, when acting within the agent’s authority, can bind the principal to contracts with third parties. The contract that results from the agent’s actions is between the principal and the third party, not the agent, so the minor isn’t personally bound by that contract. However, because minors generally lack capacity to contract, any contract the minor attempts to form in their own name would be voidable by the minor. So a minor can serve as an agent to facilitate binding contracts for a principal, but the minor cannot form contracts in their own right.