Derechos de los Adultos y Legitimidad de los Hijos

Explicación Simple

Si tienes 18 años o más, puedes firmar contratos y demandar a alguien. Además, todos los hijos, sin importar si sus padres están casados o no, tienen los mismos derechos.

Es como tener una llave de tu propia casa cuando cumples 18 años; puedes entrar y hacer lo que quieras. También, es como si todos los niños, sin importar su historia familiar, tuvieran el mismo acceso a un parque de diversiones.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Ana, que acaba de cumplir 18 años, quiere alquilar un apartamento. Ella puede firmar el contrato sin que nadie le diga que no. Por otro lado, si Juan nació de padres que no estaban casados, aún así tiene derecho a recibir apoyo de su papá, siempre y cuando se demuestre que él es su padre.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

23 Pa.C.S. 5101 - Attainment Of Full Age (a) Age for entering into contracts.--Any individual 18 years of age and older shall have the right to enter into binding and legally enforceable contracts and the defense of minority shall not be available to such individuals. (b) Age for suing and being sued.--Except where otherwise provided or prescribed by law, an individual 18 years of age and older shall be deemed an adult and may sue and be sued as such. 23 Pa.C.S. 5102 - Children Declared To Be Legitimate (a) General rule.--All children shall be legitimate irrespective of the marital status of their parents, and, in every case where children are born out of wedlock, they shall enjoy all the rights and privileges as if they had been born during the wedlock of their parents except as otherwise provided in Title 20 (relating to decedents, estates and fiduciaries). (b) Determination of paternity.--For purposes of prescribing benefits to children born out of wedlock by, from and through the father, paternity shall be determined by any one of the following ways: (1) If the parents of a child born out of wedlock have married each other. (2) If, during the lifetime of the child, it is determined by clear and convincing evidence that the father openly holds out the child to be his and either receives the child into his home or provides support for the child. (3) If there is clear and convincing evidence that the man was the father of the child, which may include a prior court determination of paternity.