Generally, a contract made with a person under 18 years is not binding unless, before it was made, it was approved by a court [Minors Contracts (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1979 s 6]. However, where the contract is for the supply of necessaries, the child must pay a reasonable price, although this may not always be the contract price. Necessaries are usually defined as those things suitable to the condition of life of the person and to the person's actual requirements at the time of sale. A residential tenancy agreement is a binding contract for necessaries.

A contract for instruction or education signed by a child - for example, an agreement for an apprenticeship - is also likely to be binding.

A contract under which a child receives some kind of interest of a permanent nature - for example, in land - is binding unless the child repudiates (or avoids) the contract at any time up to the age of 18 years or within a reasonable time after turning 18 years. A contract made by a person who is under 18 years is binding if it is ratified or affirmed by that person after he or she becomes an adult.