Age of Consent:- in law, the age when persons are considered to be fully bound by their words and deeds. The age of consent varies for different actions. For example, one has the right to consent to marriage at an earlier age than one may legally sign a contract. In most of the U.S. one acquires the legal capacity to conclude a contract at the age of 18. A boy at age 14 and a girl at age 12, however, are capable of matrimonial consent under common law, but again U.S. state statutes differ on the age of consent

(Microsoft Encarta 2008. 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation)