[1] Under the previous Scots law (derived from Roman law), a child to the age of 12 if female, or 14 if male, had legal status of "pupil" and was under legal control of an adult (usually parent or parents) deemed "tutor".

The rules as to when contracts did or did not require consent, and which were potentially reducible by court were complex.

[1] Under the Age Legal Capacity Scotland Act 1991 the old rules and terms were replaced.

From age 16 a person has full legal capacity to enter into any form of agreement.

Contracts entered into in the course of the young person's business, or where they misrepresented their age also cannot be reduced.