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PS 1245

Para enmendar los Artículos 97, 98, 389, 406, 411, 580, 595, 655, 658, 682 y 1641; y derogar los Artículos 107, 381, 382 y 639 al 652, ambos inclusive, de la Ley 55-2020, según enmendada, conocida como el “Código Civil de Puerto Rico de 2020”; y para otros fines relacionados; enmendar el Artículo 2 de la Ley 338-1998, según enmendada, conocida como la “Carta de los Derechos del Niño”; enmendar el Artículo 4 del Código de Comercio de 1932, según enmendado; enmendar el inciso (a) del Artículo 2 de la Ley 296-2012, según enmendada, conocida como la “Ley Uniforme de Procedimientos de Protección y Jurisdicción en Casos de Tutela de Adultos de Puerto Rico”; y enmendar los Artículos 1, 2, 4 y 6, enmendar y reenumerar los Artículos 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 y 13 como los Artículos 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 y 14 de la Ley 176-2008, según enmendada, conocida como la “Ley para el Acceso a los Servicios Esenciales de las Personas con Impedimentos Significativos, Mayores de 21 Años”, a los fines de establecer la mayoría de edad a los dieciocho (18) años; armonizar el ordenamiento jurídico con dicho cambio y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

The bill sets the age of majority at 18 for civil capacity and related rights, aligning Puerto Rico law with other U.S. standards.

Vista Pública: Salón Héctor Martínez Colón
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · PS 1245

Overview

PS 1245, introduced in the Puerto Rico Senate on May 11, 2026, aims to harmonize the civil law framework with the age of majority-by establishing 18 as the universal age of adulthood for civil and administrative purposes. It proposes broad amendments to the Puerto Rico Civil Code (Law 55-2020, as amended) and related laws to align civil capacity, contract rights, and various adult responsibilities with an 18-year-old threshold, replacing the current 21-year standard in many provisions. The bill also includes transitional provisions to protect rights and ongoing actions established under the prior regime.

Main purpose and intent

  • Set the age of majority at 18 for civil capacity and related adult rights and duties across multiple areas.
  • Align Puerto Rico law with the broader U.S. standard (most states recognize 18 as the age of adulthood).
  • Ensure consistency across civil, family, guardianship, insolvency, and consumer/protection frameworks.
  • Establish transitional rules to protect rights and obligations that arise under the previous 21-year regime.

Key provisions and changes

  • § Article 97 (Code Civil) — Declares majority of age at 18 (instead of 21). Full civil capacity from age 18, subject to Code restrictions.
  • § Article 98 — Proof of majority: demographic birth certificate suffices; if birth registration is absent, any indubitable evidence of reaching 18 is accepted.
  • § Article 389 — Declaración jurada (marriage): updates required content (a–k) for marriage declarations, including details about spouses, parents, children, consent, regime, and medical information; maintains confidentiality and imposes penalties for disclosures.
  • § Article 406 — Matrimonio anulable: reorganizes and clarifies grounds for annulment; removes the 18–21 age grant of parental consent language and adjusts section labeling.
  • § Article 411 — Extinción de la acción de anulabilidad: revises extinction/confirmation of marriage annulment with updated references.
  • § Article 580 — Requisitos del adoptante: raises/clarifies capacity to adopt; discusses age and relationship requirements; allows some flexibility for joint/adoption by two people married or in analogous partnerships (with one party being of age).
  • § Article 595 — Consentimiento para tratamiento médico: broadens emergency medical consent rules; permits single-progenitor consent in emergencies; clarifies autonomy in urgent treatment scenarios.
  • § Article 655 — Gastos de estudios: extends child support/alimony obligations beyond 21–25 in certain circumstances; specifies judicial discretion on amount and duration.
  • § Article 658 — Obligados a suministrarse alimentos: expands reciprocal support obligations; adds age-adjusted considerations (health, disability, housing, dependents) when the obligor is 62 or older; preserves support for those under 21 still in school unless employed full-time; government custody scenarios noted.
  • § Article 682 — Contenido de las constancias del registro: clarifies contents recorded by the Demographic Registry, including marriage records and their economic regimes; emphasizes indispensable recording.
  • § Article 1641 — Capacidad para testar; testamento: lowers threshold for who can make a will to 18+; retains 14–17 for endowed persons only if discernment exists (with alignment to majority rule for testamentary capacity).
  • § Article 2, Law 338-1998 (Carta de los Derechos del Niño): extends child rights recognition up to 18 years (instead of 21); broad language ensuring child rights coverage through 18.
  • § Article 4, Código de Comercio 1932: capacity for habitual commerce lowered to 18; allows minors who are registered in the Mercantile Registry to engage in commerce.
  • § Article 2, Ley 296-2012 (Adult Guardianship Uniform Procedures): redefines “Adult” as 18+ (instead of 21+); emancipated minors included.
  • § Ley 176-2008 (Servicios Esenciales para Personas con Impedimentos Significativos): renumbering and redefinition to set 18 as the threshold for eligibility; creates a program (Fondo de Oportunidades y Acceso) for ages 18–59 with significant impairments lacking employment capability.
  • Transitions and Implementations:
    • Transitory provisions to preserve rights, actions, and pensions for those aged 18–20 at the law’s effective date.
    • Preserves existing procedural rights and limitations until they mature under the new regime.
    • Clarifies non-derogation of minors’ rights and continuity of preexisting legal protections.
  • Derogations:
    • Repeals specific provisions tied to the old 21-year threshold (Artículos 107, 381, 382, 639–652) in the Civil Code.

Who and what would be affected

  • Individuals reaching 18 years: gain full civil capacity for contracts, property, and many non-family matters.
  • Minors aged 18–20: receive transitional protections and access to new civil status rights.
  • Guardianship, alimony, and child support regimes: realigned to 18+ majority, with transitional safeguards.
  • Adoption, marriage, and testamentary matters: updated to reflect 18 as adulthood, with procedural adjustments.
  • Government and regulatory bodies: responsible for implementing and regulating the transitional framework and new eligibility criteria (especially for services to people with significant disabilities).
  • Businesses and commerce: provisions in the Código de Comercio updated to permit 18-year-olds to engage in habitual commerce, with possible minor registrations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: The bill provides that the new regime will take effect 120 days after enactment.
  • Transitional regime: Includes detailed provisions to preserve accrued rights, prescribe terms under prior law, and protect ongoing actions stemming from the previous 21-year standard.
  • Severability: If any part is struck down, the remainder remains in effect, with a presumption of legislative intent to enact most provisions.
  • Derogations: Explicitly repeals several provisions tied to the previous majority age, ensuring a clean alignment with the 18-year standard.

Summary

PS 1245 represents a comprehensive reform to align Puerto Rico’s civil law framework with an 18-year-old age of majority. It touches broad areas including contracts, marriage, guardianship, adoption, medical consent, alimony, and disability services, while preserving transitional protections for those affected by the shift. The bill emphasizes consistency, modern constitutional and social expectations, and greater parity with U.S. age-of-majority norms. It would take effect 120 days after enactment, with a carefully designed transition to avoid retroactive harms.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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