The legal power of a father,—for a mother, as such, is entitled to no power, but only to reverence and respect,  the power of a father, I say, over the persons of his children ceases at the age of twenty-one: for they are then enfranchised by arriving at years of discretion, or that point which the law has established, as some must necessarily be established, when the empire of the father, or other guardian, gives place to the empire of reason. Yet, till that age arrives, this empire of the father continues even after his death; for he may by his will appoint a guardian to his children. He may also delegate part of his parental authority, during his life, to the tutor or schoolmaster of his child; who is then in loco.

                   Commentaries on the Laws of England, Sir William Blackstone, 1765-69

Please follow and like us: