Topic: Child Marriages in US Allowed
SparklingCrystal 💖💎's photo
Sun 06/05/22 02:53 PM
I'm shocked. I just learnt that child marriages in the US is allowed. In most states the min. age is set at 12, but a 2 states don't even have a minimum age???
Seriously shocked...
How can a country that presents itself as 1st world country, even pretends to be world leader (not my view) have that kind of law that the Western world condemns in many Muslim and/or 3rd world countries?
Really can't believe this...

Can a 12 year old get married in the US?
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.

Bart's photo
Sun 06/05/22 03:09 PM

I'm shocked. I just learnt that child marriages in the US is allowed. In most states the min. age is set at 12, but a 2 states don't even have a minimum age???
Seriously shocked...
How can a country that presents itself as 1st world country, even pretends to be world leader (not my view) have that kind of law that the Western world condemns in many Muslim and/or 3rd world countries?
Really can't believe this...

Can a 12 year old get married in the US?
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.

44 out of 50 states allow child marriage only Minnesota, New York , New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island, 1 more maybe Connecticut? Legal marriage age is 18



Devo1974's photo
Sun 06/05/22 03:19 PM
I had no idea, I heard the stories of Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis marrying minors back in the 50's and 60's but I thought that was done away with long ago

SparklingCrystal 💖💎's photo
Sun 06/05/22 03:59 PM

I had no idea, I heard the stories of Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis marrying minors back in the 50's and 60's but I thought that was done away with long ago

Yeah, pretty unbelievable, or what?!
I still ain't over the shock, hihi. It's medieval.
It means in 2 states without min. age a 7 yr old could get married?? Insane!

motowndowntown's photo
Sun 06/05/22 04:10 PM
Alabama The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen.
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). Also, marriage under the age of sixteen is possible if there's a court order.
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.
California The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, there are no age limits regarding the minimum age for a couple to marry, but the partners and the minor's parents have to meet with court officials who must rule out abuse or coercion. There is a 30-day waiting period for minors unless they are seventeen and have graduated high school or one of the partners is pregnant.
Colorado The age of consent is eighteen. 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
Connecticut The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen.
Delaware The age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married.
Florida The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent and judicial, a person can marry at seventeen as long as one party isn't more than two years older than the minor.
Georgia The age of consent is eighteen. Emancipated minors who are seventeen can marry after completing a premarital education course but not to someone more than four years older.
Hawaii The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person who is fifteen can marry with parental consent and judicial approval.
Idaho The age of consent is eighteen. 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.
Indiana The age of consent is eighteen. 16- or 17-year-olds can marry someone no more than four years older with approval from a juvenile court judge.
Iowa The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen.
Kansas The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. With judicial approval, a person can marry at age fifteen.
Kentucky The age of consent is eighteen. With judicial approval, a person can marry at seventeen.
Louisiana The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent and judicial approval, a minor who is sixteen or seventeen can marry a person less than three years older. No one under sixteen can marry.
Maine The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person who is under sixteen cannot marry.
Maryland The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent or proof of pregnancy/birth of a child, parties can marry at sixteen. A person can marry at fifteen with parental consent and there's proof the female is pregnant or has given birth to a child.
Massachusetts The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent and judicial approval, a person can marry under the age of eighteen.
Michigan The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen.
Minnesota The age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married.
Mississippi 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.
Montana The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent and after at least two separate counseling sessions, a person can marry at sixteen.
Nebraska The age of consent is nineteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at seventeen.
Nevada The age of consent is eighteen. A person can marry at seventeen with: (1) parental or guardian consent; (2) proof of Nevada residence; (3) a court order.
New Hampshire The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent and the consent of the judge, a person can marry at sixteen.
New Jersey The age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married.
New Mexico 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.
New York The age of consent is eighteen. With parental and judicial consent, a person can marry at seventeen.
North Carolina The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person can marry at fourteen with judicial consent, which is given if the person is pregnant or has given birth to a child.
North Dakota The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen.
Ohio The age of consent is eighteen. With judicial consent, and so long as the parties are less than four years apart, minors can marry at age seventeen.
Oklahoma The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person under sixteen may marry if authorized by the court.
Oregon The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at seventeen.
Pennsylvania The age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot legally marry.
Rhode Island The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person can marry under the age of sixteen if approved by the family court.
South Carolina The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen.
South Dakota The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen.
Tennessee The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at seventeen; however, one party cannot be more than four years older than the minor.
Texas The age of consent is eighteen. Emancipated minors who are sixteen or seventeen can legally marry.
Utah The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person can marry at age fifteen with parental consent and judicial approval or court commissioner.
Vermont The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen.
Virginia The age of consent is eighteen. Minors can marry at sixteen with court approval in special cases.
Washington The age of consent is eighteen. With judicial approval, a person can marry at seventeen.
West Virginia The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person under sixteen can marry with parental consent and judicial approval.
Wisconsin The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at age sixteen.
Wyoming The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person under the age of sixteen can marry with judicial approval.
District of Columbia The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen.
Puerto Rico The age of consent is twenty-one. With parental approval (and under specific circumstances), females can marry at sixteen.
Learn More About Marriage Age of Consent Laws in Your State by Speaking to an Attorney






dust4fun's photo
Sun 06/05/22 04:39 PM
Edited by dust4fun on Sun 06/05/22 04:42 PM


I had no idea, I heard the stories of Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis marrying minors back in the 50's and 60's but I thought that was done away with long ago

Yeah, pretty unbelievable, or what?!
I still ain't over the shock, hihi. It's medieval.
It means in 2 states without min. age a 7 yr old could get married?? Insane!


Just because that is the way a law is written does not mean everyone is running out and doing it. Girls that are 12 and 13 years old can also have children, and now pro life supporters want to make it impossible for these girls to get abortions if they wish. I believe that in most states a girl is considered an adult and is emancipated from her parents if she has a child. There are consent laws for sex, but it's not all that often that those are prosecuted. Is it fair to mark somebody as a sex offender for the rest of their life for being curious at 15?

What is even sicker is the group of people who want to allow children to under go sex transition treatments and procedures, give them some time to figure out if they truly want to be transgender as much of that can not be reversed.

Smartazzjohn's photo
Tue 06/07/22 10:25 AM
Edited by Smartazzjohn on Tue 06/07/22 10:27 AM
If 12 year old gets married

and the minimum legal age of consent nationally to have sex is 16

it means that a 12 year old who gets married can't consummate the marriage legally

and in some states, entering into a marriage without the intent of consummating the marriage is considered to be marital fraud

that means that a 12 year old who gets married can't consummate the marriage legally

so are 12 year olds who get married are either guilty of fraud or violating the age of consent law by default in some states

Oh geez.....I put way too much thought into something that isn't a problem for me!!!! frustrated

rofl rofl




SparklingCrystal 💖💎's photo
Thu 06/16/22 02:48 AM

If 12 year old gets married

and the minimum legal age of consent nationally to have sex is 16

it means that a 12 year old who gets married can't consummate the marriage legally

and in some states, entering into a marriage without the intent of consummating the marriage is considered to be marital fraud

that means that a 12 year old who gets married can't consummate the marriage legally

so are 12 year olds who get married are either guilty of fraud or violating the age of consent law by default in some states

Oh geez.....I put way too much thought into something that isn't a problem for me!!!! frustrated

rofl rofl

I don't think it quite works that way. Normally speaking when married you're considered an adult meaning you can also legally have sex and consummate the marriage.
Not sure how other age-related things would work when married as a minor. Like buying a house, or alcohol etc. Even if you legally could it might get tricky, needing paperwork wherever you go.

Over here both have to be 18 to be able to wed and 18 is also the age you legally become an adult. So when 18 you have all the liberties any other adult has: alcohol, buying a house, getting married etc. etc.

If someone married a minor abroad the marriage isn't recognized/legal/valid here.
The same goes if someone has plural wives.

TxsGal3333's photo
Thu 06/16/22 04:46 AM
Edited by TxsGal3333 on Thu 06/16/22 05:00 AM
It is not just the US New Zealand as well~~

What is the youngest age you can get married in NZ?
We also know that the legal age to marry in New Zealand is 18 years old. However, if your parents consent to the marriage and you are under the age of 18, then you will be able to get married.

Even tho it is allowed it is not something that happens very often.. I have never known anyone that got married younger then 16 and normally that was due to they were pregnant.

There are many laws that have been in place for century's and have never been changed. Heck I grew up believing you had to be 16 to get married and that is only with your parents signing for you..

Most parents would never give their consent for their child to be married at 16 unless it was necessary. And under 16 is almost unheard of a parent giving consent..

Heck if caught having sex with a minor under 18 they are labeled as a Sex Offender.


Mr Good Guy's photo
Thu 06/16/22 07:44 AM

It is not just the US New Zealand as well~~

What is the youngest age you can get married in NZ?
We also know that the legal age to marry in New Zealand is 18 years old. However, if your parents consent to the marriage and you are under the age of 18, then you will be able to get married.

Even tho it is allowed it is not something that happens very often.. I have never known anyone that got married younger then 16 and normally that was due to they were pregnant.

There are many laws that have been in place for century's and have never been changed. Heck I grew up believing you had to be 16 to get married and that is only with your parents signing for you..

Most parents would never give their consent for their child to be married at 16 unless it was necessary. And under 16 is almost unheard of a parent giving consent..

Heck if caught having sex with a minor under 18 they are labeled as a Sex Offender.


Unless you are a woman then you just get a slap on the hand while a man goes to prison for decades. Equal rights?