246. At what age does one reach the age of majority in Germany?

Answer options

1. 16
2. 18
3. 19
4. 21

Explanation

Age of majority is defined in civil law by § 2 of the German Civil Code (BGB): a person is of full age upon completing 18 years. Majority confers full capacity to contract and ends parental custody (§§ 1626 et seq. BGB), while legal personality exists from birth. Historically, the BGB set majority at 21 in 1900; it was lowered to 18 by the Act Amending the Civil Code (Age of Majority) of 31 July 1974, effective 1 January 1975. Constitutionally, the federal voting age in Article 38(2) Basic Law was reduced to 18 in 1970; lower voting ages in some Länder or municipalities do not alter the civil age of majority.