CIRCULARS TO CONSULAR OFFICERS, NOT EMBODIED IN THE FOREGOING INSTRUCTIONS. [Circular No. 18.] Concerning the laws in force in the United States respecting the age at which persons attain their majority. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 16, 1872. To the Diplomatic and Consular Officers of the United States: GENTLEMEN: Occasions having arisen in which it was found desirable for the Diplomatic and Consular Officers of the United States to possess authentic information concerning the laws in force in the several States and Territories of the United States as to the age at which males and females, whether unmarried or married, attain their majority, the Department, some time since, addressed a circular letter to the executives of the several States and Territories, from which the following information has been extracted: STATES. Alabama.-Males under 17 years, and females under the age of 14, cannot contract marriage. Both males and females attain their majority at 21 years of age. Arkansas.-Males at the age of 21 years, and females at 18, attain their majority. California.-Males attain their majority at the age of 21 years, and females at 18. Connecticut.-Males and females, unmarried or married, attain their majority at 21 years of age. Delaware.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, females at 21 or marriage. Florida.-Males and females, married or unmarried, attain their majority at 21 years of age. Georgia.-Males and females, married or unmarried, attain their majority at 21 years of age. Illinois. Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. Indiana.-Males and females, married or unmarried, attain their majority at 21 years of age. Iowa. The period of minority extends in males to the age of 21 years, and in females to 18, but all minors attain their majority by marriage. Kansas.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18, whether married or unmarried. Maine.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females, for the purpose of marriage, at 18, and for all other purposes at 21. Maryland.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. Massachusetts.-Males and females attain their majority, whether married or unmarried, at 21 years of age. Michigan.-Males and females attain their majority at 21 years of age. (The age, however, so far as relates to females, is established rather by implication than direct averment of statute.) Minnesota. Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. (Males, however, are qualified under the law to contract marriage at 18, and females at 15.) Missouri.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. Mississippi.-Males and females attain their majority, whether married or unmarried, at 21 years of age. Females are allowed to marry without consent of paients or guardian at 18. Kentucky.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, females 18. (Males can marry at 18, and females at 14.) Louisiana.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. (Males can marry at 14, and females at 12.) New Hampshire.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. New Jersey.-Males and females attain their majority at 21 years of age. (Females can marry without consent of parents or guardian at 18.) New York.-Males and females attain their majority, whether married or unmarried, at 21 years of age. (Males may dispose of personal estate, by will, at 18 and upward, and females at 16. Marriage of females under 14, without consent of parents or guardian, may be declared void by the courts.) North Carolina.-Males or females attain their majority, whether married or unmarried, at 21 years of age. Nebraska.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age; females, married, at 16; unmarried, at 18. Nevada.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. Ohio. Males attain their majority, whether married or unmarried, at 21 years, and females at 18. Oregon.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18 or on their marriage. Pennsylvania.-Males and females attain their majority at 21 years of age. (In cases of apprenticeship the male, under the law, is released at 21, and the female at 18.) Rhode Island.-Males and females, married or unmarried, attain their majority at 21 years of age. (But both male and female may make a will of their personal property at 18.) South Carolina.-Males and females, married or unmarried, attain their majority at 21 years of age. Tennessee.-Males and females, married or unmarried, attain their majority at 21 years of age. Texas.-Males or females attain their majority at 21 years of age. (Minor female upon marriage becomes of full age.) Vermont.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. Virginia.-Males and females attain their majority, married or unmarried, at 21 years of age. West Virginia.-Males and females attain their majority at 21 years of age. (Minors 18 years of age and upward may dispose of personal property by will. No marriage can be solemnized between parties, either of whom is under 21 years of age, unless with the consent of father, guardian, or mother.) Wisconsin.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. (Marriage of a minor does not affect the state of majority.) TERRITORIES. Colorado.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. (Males can marry at 16 and females at 14.) Dakota.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. (Males can marry at 16 and females at 14.) Idaho.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. (Males can marry at 16 and females at 14.) Montana.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. (Males can marry at 18; no age fixed for females.) New Mexico.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. (Males must be 21 years of age to marry without consent of parents, but no age fixed for females.) Utah.-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. (A minor may make contract for personal services.) Washington-Males attain their majority at 21 years of age, and females at 18. (All females married to a person of full age shall be deemed and taken to be of full age. Males and females under age must have consent of parents or guardian to marry.) I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, [Circular No. 21.] Concerning the laws of the United States respecting the taking of testimony by letters rogatory. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, April 15, 1872. To the Diplomatic and Consular Officers of the United States: Letters rogatory for the purpose of taking the testimony of persons residing in the United States, which may be material in suits pending in the courts of foreign countries, are frequently sent to this Department, usually with a note from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the foreign country or from its Diplomatic Representative here, requesting that the business may be attended to. It is not, however, the province of the Department of State to dispose of matters of this kind. Frequently witnesses whose testimony is sought, reside in places far from this city, rendering it impracticable to have the testimony taken within the time at which it is required, in order to make it available. It is, therefore, deemed advisable to issue this circular, to which are appended the acts of Congress regulating the taking of testimony in such cases. Other information upon the subject, which will be found useful to persons interested, is contained in the following DIRECTIONS. The circuit courts of the United States are held in each of the States; and, at the points in each State where the circuit court is held, there is established permanently a clerk's office, so that in addressing a communication to that tribunal, the proper form would be "To the circuit court of the United States for the State of " United States courts are held in Maine, at Portland; in New Hampshire, at Portsmouth and Exeter; in Massachusetts, at Boston; in Rhode Island, at Newport and Providence; in Vermont, at Windsor and Rutland; in Connecticut, at New Haven; in New York, at Canandaigua, Albany, Utica, and the cities of New York and Brooklyn; in New Jersey, at Trenton; in Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia and Pittsburgh; in Delaware, at New Castle; in Maryland, at Baltimore; in West Virginia, at Lewisburgh; in Virginia, at Norfolk; in North Carolina, at Raleigh; in South Carolina, at Charleston; in Georgia, at Milledgeville; in Florida, at Apalachicola, Tallahassee, Saint Augustine, and Pensacola; in Alabama, at Mobile; in Louisiana, at New Orleans; in Mississippi, at Jackson; in Texas, at Galveston, Brownsville, Austin, and Tyler; in Ohio, at Cleveland and Cincinnati; in Michigan, at Detroit and Grand Rapids; in Kentucky, at Frankfort, Covington, Louisville, and Paducah; in Tennessee, at Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis; in Indiana, at Indianapolis; in Illinois, at Chicago and Springfield; in Wisconsin, at Milwaukee and Madison; in Minnesota, at Saint Paul; in Iowa, at Des Moines; in Missouri, at Saint Louis and Jefferson City; in Kansas, at Topeka; in Arkansas, at Little Rock; in California, at San Francisco; in Oregon, at Portland; in Nevada, at Carson City. There is also at least one district court in each State. In many of the States there are two, and in some three. When a State is composed of two districts, they are in some States called northern and southern; in others eastern and western; in one northern, southern, and eastern; in another northern, middle, and southern; and in another eastern, middle, and western. The clerks of these courts, respectively, are authorized by the laws of the United States to take depositions, and may, with propriety, be designated as commissioners for that purpose in letters rogatory, which, when returned, are to be used in the courts of foreign countries. The letters rogatory may be addressed to the judge of either the circuit court of the United States for the State of or the district court of the United States for the district of- —, (naming the State,) praying the judge of that court to name and appoint the commissioner, or such letters may be addressed to the commissioner directly. The letter or package should in all cases be directed to the clerk of the district or circuit court to which the letters rogatory are addressed. The clerk's office is at the place where the court holds its sessions. I am your obedient servant, HAMILTON FISH. |