Legal Definitions - sui juris

Sui juris is a Latin legal term that describes an individual who possesses full legal capacity and independence. This means they have reached the age of majority, are of sound mind, and are therefore legally competent to manage their own affairs, make their own decisions, and exercise their full civil and legal rights without requiring a guardian or other legal representative. Essentially, a person who is sui juris is legally empowered to act on their own behalf in all legal matters.

• Example 1: A Young Adult Turning Eighteen

  Upon celebrating their eighteenth birthday, a young person in most jurisdictions legally transitions from being a minor to an adult. This change in status means they become sui juris. They can now independently sign contracts, vote in elections, purchase property, and make medical decisions for themselves without needing parental consent or a guardian's approval.

  This illustrates sui juris because the individual has attained the legal age of majority, granting them full legal capacity and the independence to exercise their rights and responsibilities directly.

• Example 2: An Entrepreneur Starting a Business

  An individual who decides to open their own company, sign leases for office space, enter into agreements with suppliers, and hire employees must be sui juris. They are personally responsible for the legal and financial commitments of their business and are making these decisions independently, without the need for a legal guardian or conservator to approve their actions.

  This demonstrates sui juris as the entrepreneur is exercising their full legal capacity to engage in complex contractual relationships and manage significant financial and legal obligations on their own behalf.

• Example 3: A Person Creating a Will

  When an individual decides to draft and execute a last will and testament, they must be sui juris. This means they must be of legal age and possess the mental capacity to understand the nature of the document they are signing, the property they are distributing, and the beneficiaries they are naming. If they were not sui juris (e.g., due to severe cognitive impairment or being a minor), their will might be deemed legally invalid.

  This example highlights sui juris by showing that the individual has the necessary legal and mental capacity to make significant personal decisions about their property and legacy, which will have legal effect after their death.