Source: http://nationalparalegal.edu/public_documents/courseware_asp_files/domesticRelations/FamilyRelationships/Contracts.asp
Timestamp: 2016-07-27 07:42:00
Document Index: 379182154

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3207', '§ 6751', '§ 6751', '§ 1308', '§ 132', '§ 49116']

New York provides special rules for minors’ insurance contracts. Specifically, A minor above the age of fourteen years and six months shall be deemed competent to enter into a contract for, be the owner of, and exercise all rights relating to, a policy of life insurance upon the life of the minor or upon the life of any person in whom the minor has an insurable interest, but the beneficiary of such policy may be only the minor or the parent, spouse, brother, sister, child or grandparent of the minor. See NY CLS Ins. § 3207 (2005). Minors’ Employment Contracts
An infant's almost unfettered right to disaffirm contracts presents significant problems in the entertainment industry, due to the large number of substantial contracts with minors. In recognition of this problem, first California, and then New York, passed legislation providing for court approval of a minor's entertainment industry contracts that limits the minor's right of disaffirmance. Example: Cindy was a very popular child actress. To make as much as possible off her image, her father, Paul, signed many contracts on her behalf, including several contracts regarding the use of photographs. Many of the contracts were unfavorable. At age 21, Cindy wanted to disaffirm these contracts; however, a statute in her jurisdiction allowed a child’s guardian to contract on behalf of a performer, making these contracts unavoidable. Accordingly, Cindy could not cancel the contracts. See, e.g., Shields v. Gross, 448 N.E. 2d 108 (N.Y. 1983).
See Cal. Fam. Code § 6751(a) (2005).
Example: Jackie was 11 years old when she got a part on a soap opera. Her mother made sure to get judicial approval for the contract at the time it was signed. When Jackie turned 19, she wanted to void a few provisions of the contract, citing the fact that she was a minor at the time the contract was signed. Given the fact that the contract was approved by the court, Jackie has no grounds to disaffirm any aspect of the contract. See, e.g., Cal. Fam. Code § 6751 (2005).
Cal. Lab. Code § 1308.7(a) (2005) states: No minor shall be employed in the entertainment industry more than eight hours in one day of 24 hours, or more than 48 hours in one week, or before 5 a.m., or after 10 p.m. on any day preceding a school day. However, a minor may work the hours authorized by this section during any evening preceding a non school day until 12:30 a.m. of the non school day.
In more traditional employment, New York allows teenagers (age 16 or 17) to work as long as they have a work permit. See NY CLS Labor § 132 (2005). In addition, there are also limitations on the number of hours minors can work. See Cal. Ed. Code § 49116 (2005). ©2003 - 2016 National Paralegal College / National Juris University Go