It is fun to give gifts to friends and family members; especially on birthdays and holidays.
When someone gives a gift, that person is showing love, appreciation, or affection for the recipient. Unfortunately, gift giving can put you in an awkward situation if the friendship does not last. When this happens, some friends might want to take back the gifts that have been given. But legally, the law states that this is not allowed, except in special circumstances.
Understanding and following this law is very important for all citizens, including kids and teens.
A gift is not supposed to have any required obligations that the recipient has to adhere to including actions or giving something back to the gift giver. The legal term for these special demands is collateral. When someone gives another person a gift, the gift becomes the personal property of the recipient. This means that the recipient can use the gift in any way he or she wishes. If the recipient wants to give the gift away or donate it to charity, the law says that this is just fine.
The only time someone can ask for a gift back is if the gift was given in exchange for a promise. This is known as a conditional gift. An example of a conditional gift is an engagement ring. When a man asks a woman to marry him, he gives her a ring when she says yes. Since the woman is promising to marry the man, the ring is a conditional gift. If the woman later decides not to marry the man, she must return the engagement ring.
Laws are very important to society. They help maintain order and structure. Without laws, people could steal or hurt others without any consequences. Laws are also important because they protect people from potential harm and protect our rights as citizens.
There are thousands of laws related to driving, employee safety, and environmental safety that protect people from illnesses and injuries. Speed limit laws help people avoid car crashes caused by driving too fast. Laws that limit pollution protect people and animals from illnesses caused by toxins. Employee safety laws prevent people from working in dangerous conditions that can cause injuries or even death.
Employment law is another type of law that protects people. These laws protect workers from unfair actions by their employers. Employment laws make it illegal to discriminate against certain people or to fire people for things like their gender or the color of their skin.
Laws protect the rights of citizens and one of the most fundamental laws of our country are that every person is considered equal.
Another way laws help society is by serving as a guide for how people should behave. People who want to follow the law avoid committing crimes and doing things that can harm others. When people do break the law, there is a standard system in place for punishing them for their crimes. Civil law is different from criminal law because this field deals with things like contracts, personal injury claims, and other non-criminal cases. This type of law makes it possible to recover money from someone who caused an accident or broke a contract.
These laws benefit society because they discourage people from going back on their promises. It also keeps people from going to jail because they backed out of a promise.
Knowing the laws can also help kids learn right from wrong, which can help them stay out of trouble with their parents and with the police.
Learn About Laws, Rights, and Enforcing Them
- Law for Kids
- Law for Kids and Other Fun Stuff
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Kids’ Pages
- About the FBI
- The U.S. Bill of Rights
- Crisis of Nations
- Hangout NJ: How a Bill Becomes a Law