Minimum Age to Get Married by State in the US

The legal minimum age to get married in the US is 18 in most states without parental or court approval. Nebraska requires 19 and Mississippi requires 21. As of 2025, 16 states plus Washington D.C. have banned all marriages under 18 with zero exceptions, while 34 states still permit underage marriage under specific conditions.

Which States Have Banned Marriage Under 18 Completely?

As of July 2025, 16 states and Washington D.C. prohibit marriage for anyone under 18 with absolutely no exceptions for parental consent or judicial approval. Missouri became the 16th state to enact a full ban in 2025, joining a legislative movement that began when Delaware became the first state to do so in 2018.

States with a hard minimum age of 18 (no exceptions):

Washington D.C. also enacted a full ban in 2025. U.S. territories American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have enacted similar full bans.

What Is the General Marriage Age Across All 50 States?

The general marriage age (the age at which a person can marry independently, without parental consent or a court order) is 18 in 48 states. Nebraska sets its general marriage age at 19, the only state requiring adults to wait beyond 18. Mississippi stands alone with a general marriage age of 21, the highest of any US state or territory.

Washington D.C. enacted a full ban on all marriages under 18 in 2025, meaning no minor can marry in D.C. under any circumstances.

State-by-State Minimum Marriage Age Table

Every state sets its standard marriage age at 18 except Nebraska (19) and Mississippi (21). The minimum allowed age drops lower in many states only when specific exceptions such as parental consent or judicial approval apply. Laws change frequently; always verify current requirements with your county clerk’s office.

Data reflects laws as of mid-2025. Marriage age laws are changing rapidly. Always confirm requirements with your local county clerk’s office before applying for a marriage license.

What States Have No Minimum Age at All?

Four states currently have no statutory minimum age for marriage: California, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Mississippi. A statutory minimum age is a hard legal floor written into law below which marriage is not permitted under any circumstances. In these four states, a judge has the authority to approve a marriage involving a minor of any age if the court deems it in the minor’s best interests, though such approvals are extraordinarily rare.

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California has been the subject of significant reform efforts. Legislation (AB 2924) to ban all marriages before 18 was pending in the California legislature as of mid-2025 but had not passed. Advocates from organizations such as Unchained at Last have pushed for a full California ban for years.

How Do Parental Consent and Judicial Approval Work?

Parental consent in marriage law is written authorization from a parent or legal guardian allowing their minor child to obtain a marriage license, and it is the most common exception in states that still permit underage marriage. Judicial approval (also called a court order for marriage) requires a judge to independently review the case and determine that the marriage is in the best interests of the minor before issuing authorization, adding a check beyond parental consent alone.

Many states require both parental consent and judicial approval simultaneously. Some states additionally impose an age-gap restriction, which is a law limiting how much older the adult partner can be, to reduce the risk of coercion. Colorado caps the age difference at 3 years, West Virginia at 4 years, and Florida at 2 years.

A small number of states require minors to complete premarital education (a structured counseling program designed to prepare young people for the responsibilities of marriage) before a license is issued. Georgia requires emancipated 17-year-olds to complete such a course. Montana requires at least two counseling sessions before any minor may receive a license.

Why Are Marriage Age Laws Still So Inconsistent Across States?

Marriage age in the US is governed entirely at the state level, with no federal statute setting a national minimum. This state-controlled structure produces wide variation and different rates of reform depending on local legislative priorities, parental rights arguments, and advocacy pressure.

The Child Marriage Prevention Act of 2024, introduced to the US Congress by Senator Durbin, represents the most significant recent federal effort to address this gap. The bill would create a National Commission to study child marriage, provide increased VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) grant funding to states with full bans, and close immigration loopholes that allow child marriage to be used in spousal and fiance visa petitions.

Research consistently links early marriage to lower educational attainment, higher rates of domestic violence, and worse long-term health outcomes, particularly for girls. Between 2000 and 2018, more than 300,000 children under 18 were married in the United States, with the majority being 16 or 17 years old.

The Rapid Legislative Trend Toward Raising the Marriage Age

The pace of reform has accelerated dramatically, with 26 child marriage bills introduced across state legislatures in 2025 alone. The direction is clear: the US legal framework is moving toward 18 as a universal floor with no exceptions, though 34 states have not yet reached that threshold.

Seven jurisdictions changed their marriage age laws between 2024 and 2025: Washington (2024), Virginia (2024), New Hampshire (2024), Oregon (2025), Maine (2025), Missouri (2025), and Washington D.C. (2025). This rate of change makes it essential for anyone researching marriage eligibility to confirm current state law directly with their county clerk rather than relying on online articles that may be outdated.

What Happens If You Get Married in a Different State?

A marriage validly performed in one US state is generally recognized by other states under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the US Constitution, which requires states to honor the legal acts of other states. However, states with full bans may invoke public policy exceptions (a legal doctrine allowing a state to refuse recognition of another state’s act that violates its own fundamental legal principles) when the marriage involves a minor who could not have legally married in the recognizing state.

This recognition question is legally complex and evolving. Couples in such situations should consult a licensed family law attorney in their home state before assuming their marriage will be recognized.

Pregnancy Exceptions: A Fading but Still Existing Loophole

A pregnancy exception in marriage law allows a minor to marry below the state’s standard minimum age if one partner is pregnant or has already given birth, on the theory that formalizing the relationship benefits the child. As of 2025, only four states (Arkansas, Maryland, New Mexico, and Oklahoma) plus Guam still permit pregnancy to lower the otherwise applicable minimum age, down from approximately ten states just a decade ago.

Reformers argue that pregnancy exceptions trap vulnerable minors in potentially abusive situations rather than protecting them. Girls who marry before 18 often discover they cannot independently file for divorce, access a domestic violence shelter, or retain an attorney, because they remain legal minors in most respects despite their marital status.

Marriage Age in the Most Searched States

High-volume search queries frequently target specific states. The following are the current rules for states most commonly searched in relation to marriage age.

Texas: The standard marriage age is 18. A 16-year-old can marry only with a court order; parental consent alone is not sufficient. Texas does not permit marriage below 16 under any circumstance. From 2000 to 2014, nearly 40,000 children were married in Texas, one of the highest raw counts in the country.

Florida: The standard marriage age is 18. A 17-year-old may marry if parental or guardian consent is provided, the other party is no more than 2 years older, and a judge approves. No one under 17 can marry in Florida. Florida residents who have not completed a premarital course face a 3-day waiting period before the license is issued.

California: The standard marriage age is 18. There is no statutory minimum age when both parental consent and a court order are obtained. California requires the minor and their parents to meet separately with court officials before a license is issued, a protection added in 2019 to screen for coercion. As of mid-2025, a bill to ban all marriages before 18 was pending but had not passed.

Nevada (Las Vegas): The standard marriage age is 18. A 17-year-old can marry with parental consent, proof of Nevada residency, and a court order. No one under 17 can marry in Nevada. The residency requirement means couples cannot travel to Las Vegas to bypass their home state’s age laws; out-of-state minors are not eligible for Nevada’s exception.

Georgia: The standard marriage age is 18. A 17-year-old can marry if they are legally emancipated, have completed a premarital education course, and the other party is no more than 4 years older. A 15-day waiting period applies. No one under 17 can marry in Georgia under any circumstances.

Alabama: The standard marriage age is 18. A 16-year-old can marry with parental consent provided through a signed and notarized affidavit filed with the probate court, or with a superior court judge’s approval if the marriage is in the minor’s best interest and the other party is no more than 3 years older.

Does Getting Married Emancipate a Minor?

In many states, marriage automatically grants a minor full or partial emancipation, which means the minor gains most or all of the legal rights and responsibilities of an adult despite not yet reaching the age of majority. Emancipation through marriage frees the minor from parental authority and custody, placing adult responsibilities and most adult legal rights on the minor from the date of the marriage.

The practical rights emancipation typically grants a married minor include the ability to independently enter legally binding contracts, establish their own residence, consent to medical care, manage their own finances, retain an attorney, and file motions in court. Without emancipation, a married minor cannot exercise these rights independently.

Emancipation through marriage does not grant every adult privilege. A married minor still cannot vote until 18, purchase alcohol until 21, or obtain certain professional licenses before the state’s required minimum age.

States where marriage does not automatically emancipate a minor present the most serious protection risk. Research shows that 70 to 80 percent of underage marriages end in divorce, but many married minors in non-emancipating states must wait until they turn 18 before they have the legal capacity to file for divorce, access a domestic violence shelter, or independently retain legal counsel.

Common Law Marriage Age Requirements by State

Common law marriage is a legally recognized marital status that does not require a marriage license or formal ceremony; instead, a couple becomes legally married through cohabitation, a mutual agreement to be married, and presenting themselves publicly as a married couple. As of 2025, only 9 states and Washington D.C. actively recognize new common law marriages, and all of them require both parties to be at least 18.

Living together for any number of years does not automatically create a common law marriage, even in these states. The couple must also hold themselves out publicly as married, such as by using the same last name or filing joint tax returns.

Several states formerly recognized common law marriage but no longer allow new ones to be formed: Alabama (abolished 2017), Florida (abolished 1968), Georgia (abolished 1997), Indiana (abolished 1958), Ohio (abolished 1991), Pennsylvania (abolished 2005), and South Carolina (abolished 2019). Marriages formed in those states before the abolition date may still be legally recognized.

Age Gap Restrictions: States That Limit the Partner’s Age

Age gap restrictions (also called close-in-age requirements for marriage) are laws that prohibit an adult from marrying a minor if the age difference between them exceeds a specified number of years. These rules exist specifically to reduce the risk of coercion, since the majority of child marriages in the US involve a minor marrying an adult who is substantially older.

Five states (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, and Nevada) do not allow any person over 21 to marry anyone under 18 under any circumstances. Florida does not allow anyone over 20 to marry a minor. Georgia, Tennessee, and Ohio bar anyone over 22 from marrying a minor. These restrictions apply in addition to all consent and court approval requirements.

What Documents Does a Minor Need to Get Married?

A minor applying for a marriage license must provide more documentation than an adult applicant, and the exact requirements vary by state and sometimes by county. The core documents most states require include a certified copy of a birth certificate issued by the state vital records office, a government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport, and a notarized written parental consent form signed in the presence of the county clerk.

States that require judicial approval also require a signed court order granting permission to marry before any clerk can issue a license. Nevada additionally requires proof of in-state residency specifically for underage applicants. States like Georgia and Montana require a premarital education completion certificate showing the minor has attended required counseling sessions.

In some states, the minor and their parents must appear together in person at the clerk’s office to apply. In California, the minor’s parents and the prospective spouse must each meet with court officials separately to screen for coercion, a requirement added by law in 2019.

Waiting Periods and Counseling Requirements for Underage Marriage

Several states impose mandatory waiting periods (the time required to elapse between applying for a marriage license and that license becoming valid) and premarital counseling requirements specifically for minors applying to marry. These procedural safeguards give minors time to reconsider and allow officials to identify any coercion before the marriage becomes legally binding.

Notable waiting period and counseling rules by state:

• Florida: A 3-day waiting period applies to Florida residents who have not completed a premarital preparation course. Non-residents are exempt from the wait.
• California: A 30-day waiting period applies between the court approval order and the issuance of the license in most cases. This wait is waived for 17-year-olds with a high school diploma or 16 to 17-year-olds who are pregnant.
• Montana: At least two counseling sessions must be completed before a marriage license is issued to any minor.
• Georgia: A full premarital education course must be completed before a 17-year-old emancipated minor can receive a license.
• Alabama: A court hearing is required for the judicial approval path, which functions as a built-in pause and review period.

States With the Highest Rates of Child Marriage

Child marriage rates in the US are highest in the South and parts of the West, based on data compiled by researchers and advocacy organizations. The states with the highest rates per capita have historically included West Virginia (over 10 per 1,000 in multiple studies), Hawaii, and North Dakota, while states with the lowest historical rates include Delaware, New Jersey, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

Child marriage is more common among Hispanic women, low-income women, women from the Southern US, and people from Mormon and conservative Protestant religious backgrounds, according to published research. More girls are married as children than boys in the US, at 6.8 per 1,000 surveyed for girls versus 5.7 per 1,000 for boys.

The Military Exception Debate

Several state legislatures have debated whether to create an exception allowing 17-year-old active duty military members to marry below the otherwise applicable minimum age floor. The argument for this exception is that military service creates adult responsibilities, and the minimum enlistment age with parental consent is 17. The argument against is that creating any exception to an 18 floor undermines the protection the ban is intended to provide.

New Hampshire, which enacted a full ban on marriage under 18 in 2024, faced a legislative attempt in 2025 to create a military exception lowering the age to 17 for active duty members. As of mid-2025, that proposed exception had not been enacted, and New Hampshire’s full ban remained in place with no exceptions. The military exception debate is expected to recur in other state legislatures as the reform movement continues.

How Marriage Age Differs From the Age of Sexual Consent

The age of sexual consent (the minimum age at which a person can legally agree to sexual activity) and the minimum marriage age are two entirely separate legal standards governed by different statutes, and they do not always align with each other in the same state. This distinction is important and frequently misunderstood.

The age of sexual consent in the US ranges by state from 16 to 18. The minimum marriage age ranges from no statutory floor in four states to a hard 18 in the sixteen states with full bans. In some states, it is technically possible for a minor to be legally married even though they are below that same state’s age of sexual consent. Some states also have marital exceptions to statutory rape laws, meaning sexual activity with a married minor may not constitute a crime even when the same activity with an unmarried minor would be criminal. Child welfare advocates cite this as one of the primary reasons no exceptions to an 18 marriage minimum should exist.

Marriage Age in US Territories

US territories set their own marriage age rules separately from the 50 states, and the requirements vary considerably across jurisdictions.

Puerto Rico is notable for its general marriage age of 21, matching its age of majority. An 18-year-old Puerto Rican resident can marry but requires parental consent under that framework. The US Virgin Islands raised its marriage age from 14 for females and 16 for males all the way to 18 for both sexes in 2020, one of the most significant single-step reforms of any US jurisdiction.

What the Average American Marriage Age Actually Is

The average age at first marriage in the US is now 30 for men and 28 for women, far above any legal minimum, based on US Census Bureau data. In 1950, those averages were 23 for men and 20 for women, reflecting how dramatically later marriage has become the social norm over seven decades.

The legal minimums discussed throughout this article represent the legal floor below which a marriage cannot occur, not a reflection of when most Americans actually marry. The vast majority of Americans marry well into adulthood, and the trend toward later marriage has continued steadily. More Americans are also choosing to cohabitate with a partner instead of marrying, and cohabitation does not create any legal marital status in most states unless the state recognizes common law marriage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the youngest age you can get married in the US?

There is no single national minimum age because marriage law is set by each state individually. In 4 states (California, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Mississippi), there is technically no statutory minimum age when parental consent and court approval are both obtained, though such approvals are extremely rare. In all other states the minimum ranges from 15 to 18 depending on state rules and applicable exceptions.

Can a 16-year-old get married in the US?

Yes, in many states a 16-year-old can still marry legally, but it typically requires written parental consent, a judge’s approval, or both. As of 2025, 16 states plus Washington D.C. have banned all marriages under 18 entirely, meaning a 16-year-old cannot legally marry in those jurisdictions regardless of any circumstances.

What state has the lowest legal marriage age?

California, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Mississippi have no statutory minimum age when parental consent and court approval are both granted, making them the states with the lowest theoretical floor. Mississippi also maintains a general marriage age of 21, the highest in the country, creating an unusual dual-track system within that one state.

Can you get married at 17 without parental consent in the US?

In the vast majority of states, no. A 17-year-old almost always requires either parental consent, a court order, or both to obtain a marriage license. Emancipated minors (minors who have obtained a court order legally freeing them from parental authority) may marry in a small number of states without parental consent specifically, but judicial approval is still typically required.

What is the marriage age in Nebraska and Mississippi?

Nebraska sets its standard marriage age at 19, one year higher than most states. Mississippi sets its standard marriage age at 21, the highest of any US state. Both states allow younger individuals to marry under exceptions, but those baseline ages are unusually high compared to the national norm of 18.

Is there a federal law setting a minimum marriage age in the US?

No. There is currently no federal law setting a national minimum age for marriage. Each of the 50 states controls its own marriage licensing rules through state statutes or common law. The Child Marriage Prevention Act of 2024 was introduced in Congress to begin addressing this gap at the federal level, but it had not been enacted into law as of mid-2025.

Do all states recognize a marriage performed in another state?

Generally yes, under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the US Constitution, but exceptions exist. States with full bans on underage marriage may decline to recognize a marriage involving a minor that was performed in a more permissive state, particularly if the couple resides in the banning state. Anyone in this situation should consult a family law attorney for advice specific to their state.

What happens if a minor gets married and then wants a divorce?

In most states, a married minor cannot independently file for divorce, retain an attorney, or access a domestic violence shelter because they are still considered a minor in most legal contexts outside of the marriage itself. They often must wait until they turn 18 before they have the independent legal standing to pursue divorce proceedings. Research shows 70 to 80 percent of underage marriages end in divorce.

Which state was the first to ban child marriage entirely?

Delaware was the first US state to ban marriage under 18 with absolutely no exceptions. Delaware enacted its full ban in 2018, setting the model that 15 other states and Washington D.C. have since followed.

Are pregnancy exceptions to marriage age still legal anywhere?

Yes, but increasingly rare. As of 2025, only Arkansas, Maryland, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Guam still permit pregnancy to lower the applicable minimum marriage age below the state’s standard threshold. Most states that previously had pregnancy exceptions have eliminated them as part of broader child marriage reform efforts.

Can a 15-year-old get married in the US?

Yes, in a small number of states. Hawaii sets its explicit statutory floor at 15 with both parental and judicial consent. Kansas also has 15 as its minimum in some circumstances. In the 4 states with no statutory floor (California, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Mississippi), a judge could theoretically approve a marriage involving a 15-year-old, though such approvals are extremely rare. In the 16 states with full bans and in most other states, a 15-year-old cannot legally marry under any circumstance.

Can a 14-year-old get married in the US?

In the vast majority of states, no. As of 2025, almost no state has a statutory minimum age at or below 14. The 4 states with no statutory minimum age (California, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Mississippi) are the only jurisdictions where a judge could theoretically approve a marriage involving a 14-year-old, though this is extremely rare in practice. Where no statute exists, English common law historically set a floor of 14 for males and 12 for females, but modern courts do not apply these common law floors to approve actual marriages.

Can a 13-year-old get married in the US?

Almost certainly not in practice. While data from 2000 to 2015 recorded 51 documented cases of 13-year-olds being married in the US, those occurred under laws that have since been significantly tightened. As of 2025, no state has a statute expressly permitting marriage at 13. The only theoretical pathway would be judicial approval in one of the 4 states with no statutory minimum, which courts treat as an extreme and heavily scrutinized measure.

What is the marriage age in California?

California’s standard marriage age is 18. There is no statutory minimum age when both parental consent and a court order are obtained, making California one of 4 states with no hard lower floor. The minor and their parents must meet separately with court officials before a license is issued. Legislation to ban all marriages under 18 (AB 2924) was pending in the state legislature as of mid-2025 but had not yet passed.

What is the marriage age in Texas?

The standard marriage age in Texas is 18. A 16-year-old can marry only with a court order; parental consent alone is not sufficient. Texas does not permit marriage below 16 under any circumstances. Unlike many states, Texas requires a formal court process rather than a clerk-level approval for any underage marriage license.

What is the marriage age in Florida?

Florida’s standard marriage age is 18. A 17-year-old can marry with written parental consent and a court order, provided the other party is no more than 2 years older. No one under 17 can marry in Florida under any circumstances. Florida residents who have not completed a premarital preparation course face a 3-day waiting period before a marriage license is issued.

Can you get married in Las Vegas under 18?

Only if you are 17 and meet all of Nevada’s requirements: parental consent, proof of Nevada residency, and a court order. Nevada does not permit anyone under 17 to marry. The residency requirement means couples cannot travel to Las Vegas to bypass their home state’s laws; out-of-state minors are specifically ineligible for Nevada’s exception rules.

Can parents stop their child from getting married?

In most states where underage marriage is still permitted, yes, because parental consent is a required element of the process. Parents who refuse to provide consent effectively block the marriage in those states. However, in some states a minor can petition the court for judicial approval even if parents object, and a judge may override parental refusal if the marriage is found to be in the minor’s best interests. In the 16 states with full bans, no one under 18 can marry regardless of parental wishes.

Can parents force their child to get married?

No. Legally enforced forced marriage (a marriage entered into without the free and full consent of both parties) is treated as a form of child abuse and is illegal under criminal statutes in many states, separate from and in addition to marriage age laws. The US State Department and other federal agencies recognize forced marriage as a human rights violation. Organizations including Unchained at Last and the Tahirih Justice Center operate specifically to identify and prevent forced marriages of minors in the US.

Does getting married emancipate a minor?

In many states, yes. Marriage often automatically triggers emancipation, meaning the minor gains most adult legal rights including the ability to enter contracts, establish their own residence, manage finances, and consent to medical care. However, emancipation through marriage does not grant every adult privilege: the minor still cannot vote until 18 or purchase alcohol until 21. In states where marriage does not automatically emancipate, married minors may lack the legal standing to file for divorce or access domestic violence resources until they turn 18.

What is common law marriage and what age is required?

Common law marriage is a legally recognized marital union formed without a formal ceremony or marriage license, established through cohabitation, a mutual agreement to be married, and public presentation as a married couple. As of 2025, 9 states and Washington D.C. recognize new common law marriages: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Washington D.C. All of these states require both parties to be at least 18. Living together for any number of years does not automatically create a common law marriage even in states that recognize it.

Is the marriage age the same for males and females?

In almost every US state, yes. All but one state has eliminated gender-differentiated marriage age rules. Mississippi remains the only exception, with a statute that expressly sets different minimums: males can marry with parental consent at 17, while females can marry with parental consent at 15. The Northern Mariana Islands, a US territory, also retains gender-differentiated rules. Every other US state and territory has equalized the marriage age for both sexes.

Can a minor get an annulment instead of a divorce?

Annulment (a court ruling that a marriage was legally invalid from the start and therefore never legally existed) is available in most states and may be more accessible to minors than divorce in certain circumstances. Grounds commonly include being underage at the time of marriage, lack of required parental or judicial consent, fraud, or duress. The ability to file for annulment still depends on state rules about a minor’s legal standing to initiate court proceedings, which may require waiting until 18 in states where married minors are not emancipated.

How many children have been married in the US?

Between 2000 and 2018, more than 300,000 children under 18 were married in the United States, with the majority being 16 or 17 years old. Data from 2000 to 2015 recorded 51 documented cases of 13-year-olds and 6 cases of 12-year-olds being married. In the past 15 years, approximately 200,000 minors have married. These numbers have declined as states enact tighter laws, but child marriage continues to occur legally in the 34 states that still permit it under certain conditions.