States
| Name | Marriage age | Marriage age | Age of consent | Notes |
| General | Minimum | |||
| Alabama | 18 | 16 [40] | 16 | With parental consent, a person can marr ... |
| Alaska | 18 | 16 [22] [42] [40] | 16 | With both judicial and parental consent, ... |
| Arizona | 18 | 16 [40] | 18 | A person can marry at 16, as long as one ... |
What is the minimum legal age for marriage?
Minimum age at marriage is usually 18 years. According to the law, marriage is not restricted to individuals over the age of 18 years. 12: In addition to parental consent, persons less than 18 years old need judicial approval. In case of pregnancy, marriage can be allowed below 15 years of age. 13
What are the requirements for a valid marriage?
- Unmarried: Each person must be unmarried
- Age of consent: Each person must be at least 18 years old. ...
- Opposite sex: In some states, a marriage is only allowed between a man and a woman. ...
- Mental capacity: Each person must be sane and mentally capable of entering into a legally binding agreement.
Which states recognize common law marriage?
Today, domestic common law marriages can be contracted in the following jurisdictions:
- Colorado
- The District of Columbia
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Montana
- Oklahoma; but see the note below regarding Oklahoma law being unclear.
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- Military law; a defective state marriage was still valid under military law due to the length of time the defendant lived as married.
Can you get married at 15?
15: None: Minors can only marry below 15 if they are pregnant females with court permission. Luxembourg: 18: None: New laws of 2014 fixed the marriageable at 18 for both sexes; prior to these regulations the age was 16 for females and 18 for males. The new laws still allow both sexes to obtain judicial consent to get married under 18. Malta: 18: 16
What is the youngest age a girl can marry in the USA?
While 18 is the minimum marriage age in most states, there are exceptions in every state that allow children younger than 18 to marry, typically with parental consent or judicial approval. Nine states still allow pregnancy exceptions to the marriage age.
What is the youngest age to get married?
Child marriage is currently legal in 44 states (only Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have set the minimum age at 18 and eliminated all exceptions), and 20 U.S. states do not require any minimum age for marriage, with a parental or judicial waiver.
What states have no minimum age for marriage?
Among the states that have no lower age limit for marriage are California, Maine, Washington, Idaho, Long Island, West Virginia and New Mexico. Other states allow children to get married at age 14 or 16 with parental consent, but these 13 have no lower age limit at all.
What states are child marriage legal in?
“Child marriage is currently legal in 44 states (only Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have set the minimum age at 18 and eliminated all exceptions), and 20 U.S. states do not require any minimum age for marriage, with a parental or judicial waiver, reports the Times.
What is the highest age to get married?
The inspiring couple said their vows on George's 103rd birthday, with Doreen being 91 years 280 days old. The duo broke a record that had remained unmatched since 1 February 2002, when François Fernandez (France, b.
Can you marry your cousin?
There is no legal restriction on the marriage of first cousins.
What state has lowest age of consent?
Most of the states start at the age of 16, However, Arizona, North Dakota, Oregon and Virginia states has minimum age of victim is 15.
Is polygamy legal in the US?
Polygamy is illegal and criminalized in every country in North and South America, including all 50 U.S. states. However, in February 2020, the Utah House and Senate reduced the punishment for consensual polygamy, which had previously been classified as a felony, to roughly equivalent to a traffic ticket.
What age can you get married in Japan?
18 years of ageWho Can Get Married in Japan? Article 731 to 737 of the Japanese Civil Code stipulates the following requirements: The male partner must be 18 years of age or older and the female partner must be 18 years of age or older. A person who is under 18 years of age cannot get married in Japan without a parent's approval.
What age can you marry in UK?
In 1929, in response to a campaign by the National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship, Parliament raised the age limit to 16 for both sexes in the Ages of Marriage Act. This is still the minimum age.
What is the youngest age you can get married in Texas?
18The youngest age at which one can independently consent to marry in Texas is 18. Between age 16-18, only parental consent (or the consent of another person who has the legal authority to consent to marriage for an underage applicant) is required to obtain a marriage license.
When did child marriage stop?
As per the 1929 Act, marriage of girls below the age of 14 years and boys below the age of 18 years was prohibited. This Act was amended in 1978 to increase the minimum age to 18 years for females, and 21 years for men. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 replaced the 1929 Act, with the same minimum age limits.
What states allow 14 marriages?
Hawaii, Kansas, Maryland, Utah, and Mississippi allow children as young as 15 to marry, with each state requiring approval from a parent, a judge,...
Can 10 year olds get married in California?
A person under the age of 18 in California can marry with the consent of one parent and a judge after a review of the case that includes interviews...
Can you get married at 12 in Massachusetts?
Minimum Legal Age With Parental Consent Unlike many other states, Massachusetts does not have a minimum age for minors to marry with parental conse...
What country can you marry at 12?
Muslim and Hindu girls in Tanzania can marry at the age of 12 as long as the marriage is not consummated until the girl reaches the age of 15.
What is the lowest age of consent in America?
16California, New York, Florida, Oregon, Utah, Iowa, Arkansas, Tennessee, West Virginia, Vermont, and Delaware all have the Age of Consent set at 1...
What states allow 14 marriages?
Hawaii, Kansas, Maryland, Utah, and Mississippi allow children as young as 15 to marry, with each state requiring approval from a parent, a judge, or both, whereas Massachusetts has no age limit for marriage, though a child’s parents and a judge must sign off.
What is the lowest age of consent in America?
In the United States, the lowest state Age of Consent is 16.
How to get married in New York?
New York Marriage Law: If you are 16 or 17 years of age, you will need to have a completed parental consent form filled out by both parents. If you are either 14 or 15 years of age, you will need to show the written consent of both parents and a justice of the Supreme Court or a judge of the local Family Court. Applicants under 14 years of age cannot marry. Only one parent’s consent will be accepted if one parent is deceased or has been missing for over a year, or if one parent has full custody from a divorce proceeding. Your parents or guardians must give their consent in person before the town or city clerk or some other authorized official. If they are out of state, a notarized affidavit is acceptable but has to be accompanied by a certificate of authentication when the consent is filed in New York State.
How to get married in Illinois?
Illinois Marriage Law: If you are 16 or 17 years of age, you will have to provide a copy of your birth certificate along with some other sort of identification showing your date of birth. You will also need to have the sworn consent from each parent, each legal guardian or a judge – in person – before the county clerk at the time of application. Your parents or guardians will need to provide identification like a driver’s license, state identification card, Illinois Department of Public Aid card, or passport. If your parent is deceased, you will need to show a death certificate or proof of guardianship, or a court order waiving consent. A legal guardian will also need to show a certified copy of the guardianship papers. If you are under sixteen (16) years of age, you cannot get married in Illinois.
What is the consent to marriage form for a 16 year old in Kentucky?
Kentucky Marriage Law: If you are 16 or 17 years old, you must have the consent of your parents or legal guardian. Custody papers are required if your parents are divorced. The form that you need to have completed is the Consent to Marriage Form (84-FCC-501). It has to be witnessed by two witnesses who are at least 18 years old, signed by your parent or legal guardian, and sworn by the deputy clerk. If you are a pregnant minor you may apply to a district court judge for permission to marry without parental consent.
What age can I get married in Idaho?
Idaho Marriage Law: If you are 16 or 17 years of age, you will need to have a certified copy or your original birth certificate, or a passport, or a driver’s license or state I.D. card. You must be accompanied by one of your parents or your legal guardian and have written parental consent on the Affidavit of Consent to Marriage of Minor. If you are under 16 years of age, you will also need a court order.
How old do you have to be to get married in Georgia?
Georgia Marriage Law: Georgia changed the laws in 2006 concerning the minimum age to get married and the minimum age to get married in Georgia is 16. Most Georgia county websites are stating that in order to apply for a marriage license, both of you have to be 18 years of age. Some of the county websites are stating that if either of you are 16 or 17 years of age, both parents (either biological or adoptive) or legal guardians must give their consent to your marriage in person and provide a certifified copy of your birth certificate along with valid identification. In some counties, a probate judge also has to approve the marriage license application of individuals who are 16 or 17 years old. Anyone under the age of 16 cannot obtain a marriage license in Georgia.
How old do you have to be to marry in Arizona?
Arizona Marriage Law: If you are 16 or 17 years old, you must have the notarized consent of your parents or legal guardian. If you are under sixteen (16), you must have the notarized consent of your parents or legal guardian as well as a court order.
How old do you have to be to marry in Delaware?
Delaware Marriage Law: You need signed parental consent forms provided by the Clerk of the Peace office if you are under eighteen (18) years of age. District of Columbia Marriage Law: You need signed parental or guardian consent forms if you are under eighteen (18) years of age. If you are under sixteen (16) years of age, you cannot marry in the District of Columbia.
How old do you have to be to get married?
The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person under sixteen can marry by order of a children's or family division of district court.
How old do you have to be to marry in Illinois?
With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen or seventeen, but only if there is no more than a three-year age gap between the two parties. Illinois. The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen.
What is the legal age to marry in Arizona?
Arizona. The age of consent is eighteen. A person can marry at sixteen, as long as one party isn't more than three years older than the minor, and 1) their parent consents, or 2) they are emancipated. Arkansas. The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at seventeen.
How old do you have to be to marry in Alaska?
Alaska. The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. EXCEPTION: parties under the age of eighteen who are members of the U.S. armed forces are not required to provide parental consent (while on active duty).
What is the age of consent in Missouri?
The age of consent is twenty-one. With parental consent, males can marry at seventeen and females can marry at fifteen. Missouri. The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person over twenty-one cannot marry someone under the age of eighteen.
How old can a child marry?
With parental consent and a court order based on "the best interest of the child," and no more than a three year age gap, a child can marry at sixteen. The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. The age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married.
What are the requirements to get married?
There are a variety of legal requirements a couple must meet before they can get married. These requirements include getting a marriage license, being of sound mind, and meeting the age of consent as provided by state laws . While each state will have its own particular requirements and procedures for getting married, ...
What is the age limit to marry in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island: Age of consent to marry with parental consent for males is 18; for females is 16.
What is the age limit to marry in Mississippi?
Mississippi: Age of consent to marry with parental consent for males is 17, for females is 15.
What is the age to marry with parental consent in Mississippi?
For example, in Mississippi, the age of consent to marry with parental consent is 17 for males and 15 for females. Here are some additional notes by state: Arkansas: Age of consent to marry with parental consent for males is 17; for females is 16.
What is the minimum age to marry a minor?
Most states have a minimum marriage age for minors with parental consent, ranging from 12-17 years old . However, California and Mississippi do not have minimum ages for minors to be allowed to marry with parental consent. Massachusetts has the lowest minimum marriage age with parental consent of 14 years old for boys and 12 years old for girls.
What is the minimum age to marry in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has the lowest minimum marriage age with parental consent of 14 years old for boys and 12 years old for girls. Some states have different minimum ages for males and females, with or without parental consent.
How can a marriage be terminated?
Marriages can be terminated by annulment, divorce or death of a spouse. Divorce (known as dissolution of marriage in some states) laws vary by state, and address issues such as how the two spouses bifurcate their property, how children will be cared for, and support obligations of one spouse toward the other.
How long did divorce last in 2005?
In 2005, it was estimated that 20% of marriages would end in divorce within five years. Divorce rates in 2005 were four times the divorce rates in 1955, and a quarter of children less than 16 years old are raised by a stepparent. Marriages that end in divorce last for a median of 8 years for both men and women.
What was the median age in the 1970s?
The median age in the early 1970s was 23 for men and 21 for women; and it rose to 28 for men and 26 for women by 2009 and by 2017, it was 29.5 for men and 27.4 for women. Marriages vary considerably in terms of religion, socioeconomic status, age, commitment, and so forth.
What is the age of marriage in Puerto Rico?
In Puerto Rico the general marriage age is also 21. In all these jurisdictions, these are also the ages of majority. In Alabama, however, the age of majority is 19, while the general marriage age is 18. Most states also set a lower age at which underage persons are able to marry with parental and/or judicial consent.
How many marriages were there in 2009?
In 2009, there were 2,077,000 marriages, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The median age for the first marriage has increased in recent years.
What is the legal age to marry?
An individual can marry in the United States as of right, without parental consent or other authorisation, on reaching 18 years of age in all states except in Nebraska, where the general marriage age is 19, and Mississippi where the general marriage age is 21. In Puerto Rico the general marriage age is also 21. In all these jurisdictions, these are also the ages of majority. In Alabama, however, the age of majority is 19, while the general marriage age is 18. Most states also set a lower age at which underage persons are able to marry with parental and/or judicial consent. Marriages where one partner is less than 18 years of age are commonly referred to as child or underage marriages .
Why do people marry?
People also desire love, companionship, commitment, continuity, and permanence. There are some reasons for marriage that are ephemeral. These reasons include social legitimacy, social pressure, the desire for a high social status, economic security, rebellion or revenge , or validation of an unplanned pregnancy.
What is child marriage, and is it really happening in the United States?
Child marriage occurs when one or both of the parties to the marriage are below the age of 18. Child marriage is currently legal in 44 states (only Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have set the minimum age at 18 and eliminated all exceptions), and 20 U.S. states do not require any minimum age for marriage, with a parental or judicial waiver. Approximately 248,000 children were married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2010. The vast majority were girls wed to adult men, many much older.
How many states have child marriage?
Child marriage is currently legal in 46 states (only Delaware, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania have set the minimum age at 18 and eliminated all exceptions), and 20 U.S. states do not require any minimum age for marriage, with a parental or judicial waiver. Approximately 248,000 children were married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2010. The vast majority were girls wed to adult men, many much older.
Is child marriage a statutory defense?
This means that, at the federal level, child marriage is viewed as a valid defense to statutory rape. This law not only suggests that the federal government condones the practice of child marriage, it allows an adult to engage in sexual activity with children as young as 12, and gives sexual predators an incentive to force a child to marry them.
