Legal Life Skills

Can I sue or be sued if I’m under 19?

Last Reviewed:

June, 2025

Reviewed By:

JES Legal Specialist

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BIG IDEA
If under 19, you cannot start or defend a lawsuit on your own.

You must have a “litigation guardian”. A litigation guardian could be your mom or dad or it could be another adult who lives in BC. If your case is in Small Claims Court and involves personal injury, the litigation guardian must be represented by a lawyer.

Sometimes the litigation guardian is the Public Guardian and Trustee. The Public Guardian and Trustee is appointed by the government to help protect your legal and financial interests.

If you are sued, you must have a litigation guardian (an adult who helps you). If your parents receive the court documents they must act as your litigation guardian and should file the proper documents in court to respond to the lawsuit. If they don’t, contact the Public Guardian and Trustee.

Personal injury settlements have to be approved

If you are offered money to settle a lawsuit that involves an injury to you that resulted from someone’s negligence, either the Public Guardian (if the settlement is $50,000 or less) or the court (if the settlement is more than $50,000) must approve the settlement.

Dig Deeper

The Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia’s website will tell you more.

There are special time limits for minors starting a claim

Usually someone has two years from the time they “discovered” the problem to start a lawsuit. Minors usually have 2 years from when they turn 19 to start a claim. There are exceptions! It’s important to talk to someone like a lawyer if you are thinking of suing so you don’t miss the time limit. If you don’t file your lawsuit before the time limit is up you could lose your right to sue!

Hot Tip

There is no time limit on suing for sexual assault. There is no time limit for suing for assault or battery if you were a minor at the time or were financially, emotionally or physically dependent on the person who hurt you? A person can sue their abuser at any time.

What Rights and Responsibilities Do I have at the Age...

International Rights of the Child

UN Convention on the Right of the Child that apply to you up until you are 18. All children have the right

Not to be discriminated against
To live, be safe and develop to your fullest potential
To have a voice heard and respected in decisions that impact you
To have adults make decisions about you that are in your best interest

Dig deeper in Kids have rights!

Becoming an Adult

The age of majority is 19 in BC. This means once you turn 19 you are considered an adult. You can now make your own decisions in most situations including medical care, legal matters and finances.

Consent to Sexual Activity

People must generally be at least 16 to be able to legally agree to sexual activity. But if 16 or 17 years old, you can only consent to sexual activity if the other person is not in a position of authority or trust and there is no exploitation or dependency.

Driver's License

Once you turn 16 you are able to apply for a driver’s license. If you are under 19 you will need a parent or guardian’s permission to apply.

See Getting my driver’s license

Go to school

All kids between 5 and up until 16 years old must attend school. Most kids go to public school but there are private schools and home school options.

Have a Voice

Adults making decisions about you should take your views seriously, even if they might not always be able to do exactly what you want.

This right becomes especially important if your parents are separating or you are in the government’s care. You have the right to express your views on things that impact your life. See Your Rights in Care: What You Need to Know and Dealing with Your Parents’ Separation or Divorce.

Get a job

Age 14-15: You can get a job (with parent/caregiver permission) but your employer can only ask you to do “light work”. If your employer wants you to do anything other than light work, they will need special permission from the government.

Learn more at Working 101.

Consent to Medical Treatment

In B.C., there is no exact age when a child can give consent. If you are under 19 but your doctor thinks you understand what the treatment means, you can choose to say yes or no to medical care, even if your parents or guardians disagree.

See When can I make my own medical decisions?

Working under the age of 14

Under the age of 14 an employer needs special permission permission from your parent or guardian and from the government to hire you. There are special rules for kids working as actors.

Dig deeper at Working 101.

Consent to sex with partners close in age

Age 14 and 15: You can consent to sexual activity with someone no more than 5 years older as long as the older person is not in a position of authority or trust and there is no exploitation or dependency.

Get a Lawyer (non criminal)

The Child & Youth Legal Centre can provide legal advice, information, and representation for children and youth in a number of areas including child protection, family law, and human rights. Call: 778-657-5544 or toll free at 1-877-462-0037

Be charged with a crime

12–17: Once you turn 12 you can be charged with a crime. Until you turn 18, you will be dealt with under the Youth Criminal Justice Act if accused of a crime. Learn more at YCJA.ca.

Voting

The minimum age Canadian citizens can vote in municipal, provincial or federal elections is 18.

Consent to sex with a partner close in age

A 12 or 13 year old can consent to sexual activity with someone no more than 2 years older. The older person cannot be in a position of authority or trust (like a camp counselor or coach) and there must not be any exploitation of the younger person or dependency on the older person (like they are providing them with a place to stay).

Can be sentenced as an adult

If you are 14 or older and you are found guilty of a serious crime the judge can give you an adult sentence.

Register for List of Future Votes

The minimum age Canadian citizens can vote in municipal, provincial or federal elections is 18. If you are 16 or 17 you can register on the List of Future Voters which will automatically register you to vote when you turn 18. You can learn more about registering to the Future Voter list at Elections BC.

Babysitting

There is no law setting out the minimum age for babysitting in BC. However, babysitting courses are typically only offered to children who are at least 11 years old. There is also a BC Supreme Court case which stated that children under 10 should not be left unsupervised.

Tattoos and Piercings

No minimum age for tattoos or piercings, however businesses can set a minimum age or require parental consent.

See Tattoos and Piercings: What You Need to Know

Right to a Lawyer

If you’re a youth in BC who’s been arrested, you have the right to speak to a lawyer. You also have rights under the Youth Criminal Justice Act to talk to your parents or another trusted adult, and to have them along with a lawyer in the room with you if you choose to talk to police.

To contact a free lawyer, call Legal Aid at 604-408-2172 (Greater Vancouver) or 1-866-577-2525 (elsewhere in BC).

Access School Records

Students have rights of access to their own records. Parents also have the right to access their school aged child’s records.

Make a Will

You must be at least 16 years old to make a will in BC.

Get Married with Parent/Guardian Permission

If you are 16, 17 or 18 you’ll need parent or guardian permission to get married. Under 16, a judge will have to give an order saying it's okay for you to get married.

Donate Blood

You have to be at least 17 to donate blood in Canada. There are other requirements you must meet to be eligible. Figure out if you are eligible: Am I eligible to donate blood?

Change Your Name

Once you turn 19 you can change your name without needing your parent or guardian's permission. However, if you are younger than 19 years old and a parent with custody of your child, you may apply for a legal change of name for yourself and/or your child without consent of your parent(s).

Rent a Place to Stay

There is no minimum age when someone can enter into a rental agreement, but a landlord can decide not to rent to someone because of their age if they are under 19.

See Leaving Home Before 19.

Buying alcohol, cigarettes or marijuana, lottery tickets, and gambling

You are an adult and now have the responsibility of making decisions in your own best interest.

Treated as an Adult by the Criminal Justice System

If you are accused of a crime after you turn 18, your case will be governed by adult criminal procedures. You no longer have many of the special protections afforded to youth.

Join the Military with Parent/Guardian Consent

Most of the time you have to be at least 17 to join the military but some 16 year olds may be eligible to enroll as an Officer. Either way you'll need parent/Guardian consent.

Work without needing permission

You don’t need parent permission to work once you are 16, but until you turn 18, you aren’t allowed to do “hazardous work” like logging.

See Working 101.

Apply for an Adult Passport

You must be at least 16 years old to apply for an adult passport. You can find the application here.

Join the Military without Parent/Guardian Consent

People 18 or older do not need permission from their parents or guardians to join the military.

Organ Donation

People of any age can register to be organ donors but if you are under 19 you need a parent/guardian sign on your behalf.