Difference between capacity and competence


Capacity: A general legal term describing the legal qualification of a person, including various factors such as age, mental ability, as well as capacity to sue, which is also known as standing to sue.

Competence: A term used in law to denote a person’s basic ability to do something. Also used to describe the ability of a (judicial or other) body to take certain actions. It is used for specific situations rather than a general description of a person.