What do you call the approval of an unauthorized act, specifically for contracts made while a minor?

The term that refers to the approval of an unauthorized act, particularly in the context of contracts made while a minor, is ratification. When a minor enters into a contract, the contract is generally considered voidable at the minor's discretion. However, if the minor later chooses to affirm or ratify the contract upon reaching the age of majority or at another appropriate time, then they give legal approval to the previously unauthorized act. This formal acceptance makes the contract binding as if it had been valid from the beginning.

Ratification can occur explicitly through a clear agreement or implicitly through actions that suggest acceptance of the contract's terms, such as continuing to abide by the contract after becoming an adult. It is essential to differentiate this process from other concepts like affirmation, which implies an endorsement without the specific context of prior authorization, or authorization and confirmation, which do not specifically denote the protection provided by the context of minor's contracts. Ratification is thus the correct term for this scenario as it encompasses the legal mechanism that allows a minor to validate a contract they initially had the option to void.