Minor Child

A son or daughter who is under a state's age of legal competence, which is age 18 in most states. Prior to reaching a state's age of majority (legal competency), a minor cannot legally enter contracts, give legal consent, or otherwise transact business. Minor child is used in the conflict of interest statute (18 U.S.C. § 208) to describe those whose financial interests are attributed to a Government employee. See also the broader term "dependent child", as used in the financial disclosure law.