Review criminal responsibility age
By Chao Hsuey-wen 趙萃文
On Dec. 25, the Legislative Yuan passed on its third reading amendments to the Civil Code lowering the statutory age of majority from 20 to 18 years old, while also providing for a transitional period before they take effect on Jan. 1, 2023.
Complementary measures that were passed included amending Article 980 of the Civil Code to say that a man or woman aged 18 or younger cannot get married, and deleting Article 981’s provision that “a minor must have the consent of his statutory agent for concluding a marriage.”
It would be fair to say that these amendments are a landmark reform in the history the Civil Code.