Full Age

[L. Fr. pleine age; L. Lat. plena atas.] In common law. The age of twenty-one years, in males and females. Liit. sect.

259. 1 Bl. Com, 463.

Sometimes simply called age. See Age. In the civil law. The age of twenty-five years, in males and females.

Inst. 1. 23. pr.

The common law period of full age is generally adopted in the United States. In Vermont and Ohio, however, females are deemed of age at eighteen.

2 Kent's Com, 233. 9 Vermont R, 42, 79.

It is followed, also, in Louisiana and France.

Code Civil, Art. 388^ 488. Civil Code of Louisiana, Art. 41. 93.

The rule of the civil law is followed, as to males, in Spain and Holland. Institutes of Civil law of Spain, b.

1, tit. 1, ch. 1, sec. 3.

Vander Linden* s Institutes of the Laws of Holland, b.

1, ch. 5, sec. 7.

Full ase is deemed to be completed on the begmning of the day preceding the anniversary of the person's birth.

1 Salk. 44. 1 Ld. Raym. 480. 2 Salk. 625. 1 Bl. Com. 463. 2 Stepk. Com. 332. 2 Kent's Com. 238.

Anciently, however, the heir of a knight's fee was not deemed of age until he had completed his twentyfirst gear, and had rettched the twenty-second. (De feodo militari habebit hceres plenam cstatem cum. xxi. annum impleverit et xxii. attigerit.) Bract, fol.

86, 86 b.

The son and heir of a socman, on the other hand, was deemed of age when he had completed fifteen years. Id. ibid. The reason of this difference was that greater maturity and strength, both of mind and body, were requisite for bearing arms, and performing the other duties of military or knight's service. Id. ibid. Litt. sect.

103, 104. Co. Litt. 78 b.