Age of marriage in the United States

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Age of marriage without parental consent.
  18
  19
  21
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Age of marriage with parental consent.
  15
  16
  16 for females
  16 for females; 17 for males
  17
  18 (same as without parental consent)
  other
Some states have exceptions for pregnancy or judicial approval.

The age of marriage in the United States varies by state, but is generally 18. There are, however, two exceptions—Nebraska (19) and Mississippi (21). Most states, however, allow minors below 18 to marry (generally they have to be at least 16 but sometimes lower) with parental and/or judicial consent. Some states allow female minors below 18 to marry without parental or judicial consent, if she is pregnant.

State Minimum age Notes
With parental consent Without parental consent
 Alabama[1] 16 18
 Alaska[2] 16 18
 Arizona[3] 16 18 No minimum age with approval of a superior court judge and parental consent.
 Arkansas[2] 16 for females, 17 for males 18
 California[4] N/A 18 No minimum age with approval of a superior court judge and parental consent.
 Colorado[2][5][6] 16 18 No minimum age with judicial approval and parental consent.
 Connecticut[citation needed] 16 18 Parental and judicial consent required.
 District of Columbia[2] 16 18
 Delaware[2] 16 for females, 17 for males 18
 Florida[2] 16 18
 Georgia (U.S. state)[2] 15 18 16 without parental consent if pregnant.
 Hawaii[2] 15 18 15 with parental and/or judicial consent.
 Idaho[2] 15 18
 Illinois[2] 16 18
 Indiana[7] 17 18 15 in the case of pregnancy with both parental and judicial consent.
 Iowa[2] 16 18
 Kansas[2] 16 18
 Kentucky[2] 16 18
 Louisiana[2] 16 18
 Maine[2] 16 18
 Massachusetts[2] None (reference 16) 18 Consent can be just judicial, but is normally both parental and judicial.
 Maryland[2] 16 18
 Michigan[citation needed] 16 18 15 and under with parental consent and probate judge approval.
 Minnesota[2] 16 18
 Mississippi 15 for females, 17 for males (De jure)[8] 21
 Missouri[2] 15 18
 Montana[2] 16 18
 Nebraska[2] 17 19
 Nevada[2] 16 18
 New Hampshire[9] 13 for females, 14 for males 18 In cases of "special cause" with parental consent and court permission.
 New Jersey[citation needed] 16 (see notes) 18 16 with parental consent and in case of pregnancy.
 New Mexico[2] 16 18
 New York[10] 16 18 14 with parental and judicial consent.
 North Carolina 16 18 No minimum in case of pregnancy or birth of child with parental consent.
  North Dakota[2] 16 18
 Ohio[11] 16 for females 18
 Oklahoma[2] 16 18
 Oregon[citation needed] 16 18 Consenting parent or guardian must accompany the applicant when applying for the marriage license.
 Pennsylvania[citation needed] 16 18 14 in case of pregnancy and with the approval of a Judge of the Orphans Court.
 Rhode Island[2] 16 for females 18
 South Carolina[2] 16 18
 South Dakota[2] 16 18
 Tennessee[2] 16 18
 Texas[12] 16 18 Parental or judicial consent required. See Tex. Fam. Code Secs. 2.101 to 2.103.
 Utah[13] 16 18 15 with court approval and parental consent.
 Vermont[2] 16 18
 Virginia[14] 16 (or younger in case of pregnancy) 18 In 2016, it has been suggested to change the law to prevent kids younger than 16 to get married.[15]
 Washington[2] 17 18 May be waived by superior court judge.[16]
 West Virginia[2] 16 18 No minimum with both parental and judicial consent
 Wisconsin[2] 16 18
 Wyoming[2] 16 18

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ C.R.S. Colorado Revised Statutes 14-2-106
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XLIII/457/457-4.htm
  10. ↑ Getting Married in New York State Last accessed January 3, 2009
  11. ↑ http://www.pibweddings.com/ohiolaw.html
  12. ↑ http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/FA/htm/FA.2.htm
  13. ↑ [1]
  14. ↑ Virginia marriage requirements
  15. ↑ Virginia project to prevent kids between 12 and 16 to get married
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

16. https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleIII/Chapter207/Section25

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