Age of Majority Act

Consolidated act

Citation: R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c.A-2
Source: Unofficial consolidation PDF (justice.gov.nt.ca)

This is an unofficial reading copy parsed from the Department of Justice consolidation PDF above — itself an office consolidation, not an official statement of the law. The authoritative text is in the Revised Statutes of the Northwest Territories, 1988 and the annual Statutes volumes.

s.3 amended by S.N.W.T. 1998,c.5,s.2(2)
s.4 amended by S.N.W.T. 1998, c.5,s.2(3)
s.4 amended by Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010
s.5 amended by Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010
s.6 amended by Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010
s.8 amended by S.N.W.T. 1998,c.5,s.2(5)
s.8 amended by Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010

Cites

None.

Cited by

Acts
Education Act, s.1.1 → s.5(1)

Contents

1. Interpretation 2. Age of majority 3. Application of age of majority 4. Meaning of similar words or expressions 5. Reference to age 21 6. Court orders 7. Preservation of right of action and defence 8. Application 9. Accumulations 10. Limitation

Interpretation

Notwithstanding subsection 5(1), in this Act the expression "21 years" means 21 years.

Age of majority

Every person attains the age of majority, and ceases to be a minor, on attaining the age of 19 years.

Application of age of majority

Section 2 applies for the purposes of any rule of law in respect of which the Legislative Assembly has jurisdiction. S.N.W.T. 1998,c.5,s.2(2).

Meaning of similar words or expressions

(1) In the absence of an express definition or an indication of a contrary intention, section 2 applies in respect of the expressions "adult", "full age", "infant", "infancy", "minority" and similar words or expressions

(a) in any Act or regulation, rule, order or bylaw made under an Act, whenever enacted or made; and

(b) in a deed, will or other instrument of any nature made after June 30, 1971.

Use of words and expressions

(2) The use of words and expressions set out in subsection (1) or similar words and expressions shall be deemed not in itself to indicate a contrary intention for the purpose of this section without some further indication of a contrary intention. S.N.W.T. 1998, c.5,s.2(3); S.N.W.T. 2010,c.16,Sch.A,s.2(2).

Reference to age 21

(1) In an Act or a regulation, rule, order or bylaw made under an Act, a reference to the age of 21 years shall be read as a reference to the age of 19 years.

Reference to age 21 in Acts of Canada

(2) Where, by an Act, an Act of Canada or any provision of an Act of Canada is made to apply in respect of an Act, matter or thing over which the Legislative Assembly has jurisdiction, in applying that Act of Canada or any provision of that Act of Canada in respect of such Act, matter or thing, a reference to the age of 21 years in that Act of Canada or provision of that Act of Canada shall be read as a reference to the age of 19 years. S.N.W.T. 2010,c.16,Sch.A,s.2(2).

Court orders

(1) In an order or direction of a court made before July 1, 1971, in the absence of an indication of a contrary intention, a reference to

(a) the age of 21 years,

(b) any age between 19 and 21 years, or

shall be read as a reference to the age of 19 years.

Use of words and expressions

(2) The use of the expression "21 years" or words stating an age between 19 and 21 years in an order or direction to which reference is made in subsection (1) shall be deemed not in itself to indicate a contrary intention for the purposes of this section without some further indication of a contrary intention. S.N.W.T. 2010,c.16,Sch.A,s.2(3).

Preservation of right of action and defence

Where a right of action or a defence to an action that is based on the age of a party was in existence on July 1, 1971, the law that was in force immediately before the coming into force of this Act applies.

Application

(1) Subsection (2) applies only where the relevant anniversary falls after June 30, 1971, and in relation to an Act or a regulation, rule, order or bylaw made under an Act or a deed, will or other instrument, has effect subject to the Act, regulation, rule, order or bylaw or deed, will or other instrument.

Time of attaining age

(2) The time at which a person attains a particular age expressed in years is the commencement of a relevant anniversary of the date of that person’s birth. S.N.W.T. 1998,c.5,s.2(5); S.N.W.T. 2010,c.16, Sch.A, s.2(2).

Accumulations

This Act does not invalidate a direction or accumulation expressed in a settlement or other disposition made by a deed, will or other instrument and executed before July 1, 1971, that, but for this Act, was a permissible period of accumulation.

Limitation

10.

Where, on July 1, 1971, a person has

(a) attained the age of 19 years but has not attained the age of 21 years, and

(b) a right of action in respect of which the period of limitation applicable to the bringing of the action would have commenced to run on that person attaining the age of 21 years had this Act not been enacted,

the period of limitation in respect of that right of action commences to run on July 1, 1971. Territorial Printer, Northwest Territories Yellowknife, N.W.T./2010©