If a minor signs an exculpatory contract for a fighter pilot program, will it protect the school from liability if the minor is injured?

The concept of minors and their ability to engage in contracts is rooted in the understanding that individuals under a certain age, typically 18 in many jurisdictions, are not considered to have the capacity to enter into enforceable agreements. This legal principle is designed to protect minors from being exploited or entering into agreements that they may not fully understand or that may not be in their best interest.

When it comes to exculpatory contracts—contracts that release one party from liability—most jurisdictions hold that these agreements are unenforceable against minors. Even if a minor were to sign such a contract for a fighter pilot program, it would likely be deemed voidable. This means that the minor has the right to disaffirm the contract at any time while they are still a minor, or even for a reasonable time after reaching the age of majority. This principle exists to ensure that minors are protected in situations where they may not be able to fully comprehend the implications of their actions.

In this case, the correct understanding is that the school would not be protected from liability arising from an injury to the minor because the exculpatory contract they signed would not be enforceable.