Rule of sevens


The rule of sevens, in English common law, establishes three age brackets for determining a young person's capacity to be responsible for torts and crimes. Children under the age of seven cannot be held to have capacity, while there is a rebuttable presumption that a minor aged 7 to 14 lacks capacity, and minors 14 and older are held to have the same capacity as adults. The rule of sevens is also used in determining capacity to give informed assent to participate in clinical trials.