Writing.Com General Discussion

You should seek legal advice, but here are some things that might be factors:

1. The legal age of sexual consent in the UK is 16, so if the author is 16 or older, that may be enough to sign a contract. If not, a legal guardian as co-signatory might do the trick.

2. It is common in Europe for young talent to have the proceeds of their craft (literature, dancing, singing etc) placed in a trust account they take control of when they reach an appropriate age. Note that such accounts belong to them, they just can't withdraw from it until they reach the correct age - and just as importantly, nobody else can.

3. There are no laws in the UK preventing a child from earning from their own endeavours - child labour laws withstanding - many child actors do so. Sir Clive Sinclair made his first million while still at school (school leaving age was then 16).