united-states contract-law minor
Can a minor make a contract?
<ul>
<li>Some Policy requires all individuals with <em>System X</em>™ access to be contractually obliged not to press the Big Red Button.</li>
<li>X Corp only grants <em>System X</em>™ authorisation to people who bound by The Contract; if they end The Contract, they are no longer authorised to use <em>System X</em>™.</li>
</ul>
<p>Dave is a minor who wants <em>System X™</em> access. If Dave signs The Contract, can X Corp give Dave <em>System X</em>™ access while complying with Some Policy? I know that minors can leave a contract at any time (under most circumstances; this isn't one of the exceptions), but would they be considered bound by the contract in the meantime?</p>
<hr />
<h2>Some Policy</h2>
<blockquote>
<ol>
<li>The Big Red Button must not be pressed.</li>
<li>An organisation may grant <em>System X</em> access to a third party only if  the organisation has provided appropriate safeguards.</li>
<li>The appropriate safeguards referred to in paragraph 2 may be provided for by Rules in accordance with paragraph 4.</li>
<li>The Policy Gremlins shall approve Rules, provided that they:
<ol>
<li>are legally binding and apply to and are enforced by every member concerned of the third-party, including their employees; and</li>
<li>fulfil the requirements of paragraph 1.</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<h2>The Contract</h2>
<blockquote>
<p>In order to access <em>System X</em>™, a person must review and accept The Contract, below.</p>
<h3>The terms of The Contract</h3>
<ul>
<li>I will not press the Big Red Button.</li>
<li>X Corp agrees that it will allow you to terminate your <em>System X</em>™ access without penalty or repercussions.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

<h2>Adults are bound to contracts with minors</h2>
<p>The technical term is that a contract with a minor is that it is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voidable_contract" rel="nofollow noreferrer">voidable</a> by the minor unless it is subject to the exemptions - a contract for necessities or a contract of benefit to the minor (e.g. a reasonable mobile phone contract).</p>
<p>Until the minor chooses to void it, it is binding on everyone involved. They can do this anytime before they reach majority or within a reasonable time after that providing the contract is not complete. That means, for one and done transactions, the contract cannot effectively be voided because the contract is complete - think of a child buying an ice cream, riding a bus or going to the movies.</p>
<p>If it is voided, the minor is obliged to return whatever consideration they received and that is still in their possession. So, for the mobile phone contract, if it included a handset, they must return that providing they still have it.</p>
