1Reduction of age of majority from 21 to 18.
1
As from the dateF1 on which this section comes into force a person shall attain full age on attaining the age of eighteen years instead of on attaining the age of twenty-one years; and a person shall attain full age on that date if he has then already attained the age of eighteen years but not the age of twenty-one years.
2
Subject to subsection (4), subsection (1) applies for the purposes of any rule of law and, in the absence of a definition or of any indication of a contrary intention, for the construction of “full age” , “infant” , “infancy” , “minor” , “minority” and similar expressions in—
a
any statutory provision, whether passed or made before, on or after the date on which this section comes into force; and
b
any deed, will or other instrument of whatever nature (not being a statutory provision) made on or after that date.
3
In the statutory provisions specified in Schedule 1, for any reference to the age of twenty-one years there shall be substituted a reference to the age of eighteen years; but the amendment by this subsection of the provisions specified in Part II of that Schedule shall be without prejudice to any power of amending or revoking those provisions.
4
This section does not affect the construction of any such expression as is referred to in subsection (2) in any of the statutory provisions described in Schedule 2.
5
Notwithstanding any rule of law, a will or codicil executed before the date on which this section comes into force shall not be treated for the purposes of this section as made on or after that date by reason only that the will or codicil is confirmed by a codicil executed on or after that date.
6
TheF2 Department of Finance and Personnel may by orderF2 amend any statutory provision (not being a statutory provision described in Schedule 2), passed on or before the date on which this section comes into force, by substituting for any reference therein to the age of twenty-one years, a reference to the age of eighteen years; butF2 that Department shall not make any such order unless a draft of the order has been laid before and approved by resolution of the Assembly.
F27
The transitional provisions and savings contained in Schedule 3 shall have effect in relation to this section.