Natural person facts for kids

A natural person is simply a real human being. Think of it as you, your friends, or your family members. In law, this term helps tell the difference between a real person and something else, like a company.

For example, a company isn't a human, but the law sometimes treats it like one for certain things. This is called an "artificial person" or "legal entity."

What is a Natural Person?

A natural person is any human being. This means you are a natural person! The law gives natural people certain rights and responsibilities. These are things that only humans can do or have.

Natural Person vs. Artificial Person

It's important to know the difference between a natural person and an artificial person.

Artificial Persons Explained

An artificial person is an organization or group that the law treats as if it were a single "person." A good example is a corporation or a business. Even though a company is made of many people, the law sees it as one entity.

• A company can own property.
• A company can sign contracts.
• A company can even be sued in court.

But a company is not a real human. It doesn't breathe, eat, or sleep!

Why the Difference Matters

The difference between natural and artificial persons is very important in law.

Rights Only for Natural Persons

Many rights are only for natural persons. For instance, only a real human being can:

• Vote in an election.
• Hold a public office, like being a mayor or president.
• Have most human rights, such as the right to freedom of speech or the right to privacy.

A company cannot vote or become a politician. These are things only humans can do.

Actions for Both Types of Persons

However, both natural persons and artificial persons can do some things. For example, both a person and a company can:

• File a lawsuit in court. This means they can take someone to court if they think their rights have been violated.
• Own property.

Robots and the Law

In science fiction movies and books, like Bicentennial Man starring Robin Williams, we often see robots that seem very human. These robots can think, feel, and even have conversations.

Could Robots Be Natural Persons?

This makes people wonder: if a robot became so advanced that it seemed like a real person, would the law consider it a "natural person"? So far, no court has had to decide this. Today, robots are not seen as natural persons. They are machines created by humans.

Images for kids

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  A friendly robot, but not a natural person!