The Puerto Rico Senate approved Senate Bill 1245 on Monday, reforming the Civil Code to lower the legal age of majority to 18. The bill's author, Senator Ángel Toledo, said the measure preserves the current child support (alimentos) system: support automatically continues until age 21 and can be extended to 25 if the young person continues studying, addressing a key concern raised by organizations and public agencies during the bill's evaluation.
To ensure this, the legislation adds language to the Organic Law of the Administration for Child Support (ASUME) stating the lowered age of majority won't limit or alter the agency's powers. On marriage, the bill eliminates the requirement that 18-to-20-year-olds obtain authorization to marry, repealing Civil Code Articles 381 and 382, which currently require consent from parents/guardians, judicial authorization, or appointment of a special guardian.
On adoption, the bill requires adopters to be of legal age and at least 14 years older than the adoptee, with an exception for joint adoption by married couples or those in an equivalent relationship, where only one adopter must meet the age gap. Adoption of married or adult persons is barred unless the process began before the person turned 18 or the adoptee already lived with the adopters as a minor.