Impaired capacity is a legal term that refers to the limited ability of a person to engage in decision-making and take responsibility for their actions. It is typically used to describe capacity in a medical or mental health context. This term is often used in the context of legal proceedings, such as in criminal law, where a person may be found to be not criminally responsible for an offense due to an impaired mental capacity. There are two main types of impaired capacity: partial and total. Partial impaired capacity is when a person is able to understand and make decisions on some matters, but not on others. Total impaired capacity is when a person is unable to understand the meaning and consequences of any decision they make. The concept of impaired capacity is also often used in civil law, such as when a person is unable to understand the meaning and implications of a contract. In such cases, the impaired capacity of the person can be used to invalidate the contract.