Law Dictionary

CAPACITY

CAPACITY. This word, in the law sense, denotes some ability, power, qualification, or competency of persons, natural, or artificial, for the qualification, or competency of persons, natural, or artificial, for the performance of civil acts, depending on their state or condition, as defined performance of civil acts, depending on their state or condition, as defined or fixed by law; as, the capacity to devise, to bequeath, to grant or convey or fixed by law; as, the capacity to devise, to bequeath, to grant or convey lands; to take; or to take. and hold lands to make a contract, and the like. lands; to take; or to take. and hold lands to make a contract, and the like. 2 Com. Dig. 294; Dane's Abr. h.t. 2 Com. Dig. 294; Dane's Abr. h.t. 2. The constitution requires that the president, senators, and 2. The constitution requires that the president, senators, and representatives should have attained certain ages; and in the case of the representatives should have attained certain ages; and in the case of the senators and representatives, that out these they have no capacity to serve senators and representatives, that out these they have no capacity to serve in these offices. in these offices. 3. All laws which regulate the capacity of persons to contract, are 3. All laws which regulate the capacity of persons to contract, are considered personal laws; such are the laws which relate to minority and considered personal laws; such are the laws which relate to minority and majority; to the powers of guardians or parents, or the disabilities of majority; to the powers of guardians or parents, or the disabilities of coverture. The law of the domicil generally governs in cases of this kind. coverture. The law of the domicil generally governs in cases of this kind. Burge. on Sureties, 89. Burge. on Sureties, 89.