Living conditions and life choices
Follow these links to find out what age you can…
Get Married or Register a Civil Partnership
We have also produced a legal guide At What Age Can I..? which you can buy from this link.
Donate Blood
From the age of 17 you can donate blood without your parents agreeing to this, if a doctor or nurse thinks that you understand what is involved.
Adopt a Child
You can adopt a child from the age of 21.
Change your Gender
From the age of 18 you can make an application for a gender change certificate if you have been living as the other gender or have changed gender under the law.
Live on your own
At 18 you can leave home even if your parents don’t agree.
At 16 you can leave home even if your parent/s, or anyone else who is responsible for you, don’t want you to. There are some things that your parents can do if you have left home and they are worried about your safety, for example, they could apply for an emergency protection order or the police could place you in police protection. In most cases it is unlikely that you will be forced to go home.
Get Married or Register a Civil Partnership
You can get married or register a civil partnership if your parents agree when you are 16 years old. You will need the consent of both parents if they are married. If they are not married, you will only need the consent of your mother, unless your father has parental responsibility for you. If your parent/s refuse you can ask a court to say that it is ok for you to get married.
At 18 years old you can get married even if your parents don’t agree with this. You can also register for a civil partnership without your parents agreement.
Change your Name
Young people can change their name themselves through deed poll at 16. Under 16 it is the person with Parental Responsibility who must apply for a name change. If you want to change your name, you will need the consent of everyone who has parental responsibility for you – this will usually be your parents or your guardian. If your parents refuse you can make an application to the court. The court will then decide if you are mature enough to understand the consequences of changing your name.
Donate an Organ
You can donate an organ at any age if you understand the consequences of this. If you are under 18 you need a parent or guardian’s consent.
Choose a Religion
You can choose your own religion at any age if you have the maturity to understand the consequences of your decision. However, if you are under 18 and follow a religion that may be harmful to you, your parents could ask a court to make you a ward of court. This means that the court makes all the important decisions about your life, rather than your parents or anyone else.
Your parent or guardian can ask your school to withdraw you from religious assembly or religious education at school.
Have Sex
When you are 16 years old, you can give consent to all sexual activity (heterosexual and homosexual) involving other males and females aged 16 years and older.
Anyone who is in a position of trust (ie. a person who is caring for you, such as a teacher) and who is 18 years or over will commit an offence if he or she engages in any sexual activity with a person below the age of 18.
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