{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/mental-capacity-act-2005/schedule-3/paragraph-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/mental-capacity-act-2005/schedule-3/paragraph-4.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2005/9",
  "legislation_title": "Mental Capacity Act 2005",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/mental-capacity-act-2005",
  "path": "schedule/3/paragraph/4",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "(1) “Adult” means subject to sub-paragraph (2) a person who—\n(a) as a result of an impairment or insufficiency of his personal faculties, cannot protect his interests, and\n(b) has reached 16.\n(2) But “adult” does not include a child to whom ... the following applies—\n(a) the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-Operation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children that was signed at The Hague on 19 October 1996;\n(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Sch. 3 para. 4 renumbered as Sch. 3 para. 4(1) (1.11.2012 in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (International Obligations) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1898), regs. 1(2), 17, Sch. para. 10(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 3 para. 4 inserted (1.11.2012 in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (International Obligations) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1898), regs. 1(2), 17, Sch. para. 10(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Sch. 3 para. 4(2) inserted (1.11.2012 in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (International Obligations) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1898), regs. 1(2), 17, Sch. para. 10(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 3 para. 4(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/519), reg. 1(1), Sch. para. 26(a) (with reg. 8) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1574, regs. 1, 5(2)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Sch. 3 para. 4(2)(b) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/519), reg. 1(1), Sch. para. 26(b) (with reg. 8) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1574, regs. 1, 5(2)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/schedule/3/paragraph/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:16:24.228713+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}