In Germany, the age of majority is 18. This means that anyone under the age of 18 is legally considered a minor. So yes, 14-year-olds are classified as minors under German law.
What is the age of majority in Germany?
The age of majority, or legal adulthood, is the threshold age at which a person acquires full legal rights and responsibilities of an adult. This age is set at 18 in most countries around the world, including Germany.
At 18, a person transitions from minor to adult status and gains a number of rights, such as:
- The right to vote
- The right to enter into legal contracts
- The right to marry without parental consent
- The right to obtain a driver’s license
- The right to purchase and consume alcohol and tobacco products
- The right to gamble
- The right to leave secondary school without parental approval
- The right to work full-time
- The right to leave home and live independently from parents/guardians
- The right to consent to medical treatment
- The right to be tried and sentenced as an adult in criminal cases
In Germany, the age of majority is set at 18 under the German Civil Code (BGB). When a person turns 18, they are considered an adult under German law and assume full legal capacity and responsibility for their actions.
What is the legal status of minors under 18 in Germany?
In Germany, anyone under the age of 18 is considered a minor and has limited legal rights and responsibilities. Some key points about the legal status of minors in Germany:
- Minors do not have full legal capacity – their ability to enter into binding legal agreements and transactions is limited.
- Minors cannot vote, purchase or publicly consume alcohol, gamble, or marry without parental consent.
- Minors have the right to be financially supported by their parents.
- Minors cannot work full-time jobs, and employment for minors is regulated.
- Minors require parental consent for certain legal and medical procedures.
- Minors cannot leave home or end their education without parental approval.
- Minors can be tried for criminal activity, but special juvenile laws apply.
- Parents/guardians are responsible for the actions and negligence of their minor children.
So in summary, minors lack many rights and responsibilities that adults have, and they are under the guardianship of their parents or legal guardians, who are obligated to provide for them.
At what age do people gain specific rights in Germany?
Here is an overview of some of the key ages when specific rights are granted to young people as they get older in Germany:
| Age | Right Granted |
|---|---|
| 14 | Can engage in part-time employment, with restrictions |
| 16 | Can leave school with parental approval |
| 16 | Can engage in full-time employment, with restrictions |
| 16 | Can obtain a moped license |
| 17 | Can get a driver’s license for cars |
| 18 | Right to vote |
| 18 | Right to purchase/publicly consume alcohol and tobacco products |
| 18 | Right to marry without parental consent |
| 18 | Able to enter into legal contracts; full legal capacity |
| 18 | No restrictions on employment |
| 18 | Right to leave home and live independently from parents |
| 18 | Considered an adult under criminal law |
As this summary shows, rights and responsibilities gradually increase as a young person grows up in Germany, with 18 being the key age when adulthood is reached.
What rights do 14-year-olds have in Germany?
At 14 years of age, a person is considered a minor in Germany and does not yet have full adult rights. However, 14-year-olds do have some specific legal rights, including:
- Right to part-time employment – 14 is the minimum age for taking up a part-time job while in school, but hours are limited.
- Right to join a sports club – 14-year-olds can become members of sports clubs without parental approval.
- Partial criminal responsibility – Minors aged 14 and above can be tried and sentenced for serious crimes, but special juvenile law applies.
- Right to choose religion – 14-year-olds have the right to choose their own religious denomination if different from their parents’.
- Limited capacity to enter into contracts – 14-year-olds can enter into simple contracts for purchase of everyday items.
- Right to consent to sexual activity, with limits – The age of consent in Germany is 14, but restrictions apply.
However, 14-year-olds still require parental approval or accompaniment for most legal, financial, medical and recreational activities. Their rights remain limited until they reach adulthood at 18.
Restrictions on 14-year-olds in Germany
While they have some rights, 14-year-olds in Germany are still considered minors and face a number of restrictions, including:
- Cannot purchase, possess or consume alcohol or tobacco products.
- Cannot enter into most legal contracts, take out loans, or rent property.
- Cannot get married, vote, or leave school without parental permission.
- Cannot work full-time or do jobs deemed detrimental to their health or moral development.
- Curfews – most towns have youth protection laws restricting minors under 16 from being out unsupervised late at night.
- Driving – cannot obtain a driver’s license or drive a car unsupervised.
- Gambling – banned from casinos and placing bets.
- Violating any of these restrictions can result in fines for 14-year-olds.
Parents or guardians remain responsible for supervising their 14-year-old children and can be punished for neglecting this duty. Overall, those under 18 lack many freedoms accorded to legal adults.
Are there any exceptions?
In some cases, minors under 18 in Germany can obtain limited emancipation from their parents and gain certain legal rights earlier:
- Declaration of majority – Available from age 16, allows minors to leave school early and take up full-time employment.
- Partial emancipation – Allows minors aged 16-18 to take up part-time work or learn a trade.
- Complete emancipation – Full legal capacity can be granted in rare cases where minors are completely responsible for their own livelihood.
However, emancipation requires a formal legal process and approval by a family court. It is not automatically granted just because a minor may be living apart from parents or earning money.
Conclusion
In summary, 14-year-olds are classified as minors under German law. While they gain some rights at this age, they still require parental consent and supervision for most activities. Fourteen-year-olds have limited legal capacity and face restrictions on issues like smoking, drinking, gambling, marriage, contracts, employment and curfews. Full adult rights are only granted at age 18 in Germany.