Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 85P (2026)

Age of majority; legal capacity

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 85P. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, any person domiciled in the commonwealth who has reached the age of eighteen shall for all purposes, and any other person who has reached the age of eighteen shall with respect to any transaction governed by the law of the commonwealth, be deemed of full legal capacity unless legally incapacitated for some reason other than insufficient age.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 14 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1976–2024 · leading case: Pemberton v. Pemberton, 411 N.E.2d 1305 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980).

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Pemberton v. Pemberton, 411 N.E.2d 1305 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980). “925, § 1 (effective January 1, 1974), and G. L. c. 231, § 85P, inserted by St. 1975, c.”

Eccleston v. Bankosky, 780 N.E.2d 1266 (Mass. 2003). “In 1975, the Legislature also inserted G. L. c. 231, § 85P, made retroactively effective to January 1, 1974.”

Panagakos v. Walsh, 434 Mass. 353 (Mass. 2001). “4, § 7, Fiftieth; G. L. c. 231, § 85P. Under Hamilton v. Ganias, supra, Paquet’s companions would not be liable to Paquet’s estate for having served him alcoholic beverages.”

Cioffi v. Guenther, 370 N.E.2d 1003 (Mass. 1977). “G. L. c. 231, § 85P, inserted by St. 1975, c.”

Pagar v. Pagar, 397 N.E.2d 1293 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980). “1 At the time the parties executed the agreement, January 8,1975, Gary was not a minor.”

Jones v. Maloney, 910 N.E.2d 412 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009). “See generally G. L. c. 231, § 85P, inserted by St. 1975, c.”

Orlandella v. Orlandella, 347 N.E.2d 665 (Mass. 1976). “Under G. L. c. 231, § 85P, inserted by St. 1975, c.”

Commonwealth v. Burnett, 626 N.E.2d 900 (Mass. App. Ct. 1994). “120, §§ 16-20; G. L. c. 231, § 85P; Commonwealth v. Traylor, 29 Mass.”

Harris v. Wilcox, 424 N.E.2d 193 (Mass. 1981). “See G. L. c. 231, § 85P, inserted by St. 1975, c.”

Hoppe v. Haskins, 560 N.E.2d 746 (Mass. App. Ct. 1990). “See G. L. c. 231, § 85P. As a result, all questions presented by the denial of the father’s motion have become moot.”

Turner v. McCune, 357 N.E.2d 942 (Mass. App. Ct. 1976). “See G. L. c. 231, § 85P, inserted by St. 1975, c.”

Covell v. Olsen, 840 N.E.2d 555 (Mass. App. Ct. 2006). “925, § 74 (“Any person who has attained the age of eighteen shall have full legal capacity to act in his own behalf in the matter of contracts and shall be liable in any civil action for breach thereof”); G. L. c. 231, § 85P, inserted by St. 1975, c.”

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