State-by-State Marriage "Age of Consent" Laws
By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Aisha Success, Esq. | Last reviewed June 29, 2023
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All states have marriage laws (including common law marriages) that couples must meet before getting married. These requirements include getting a marriage license, being of sound mind, and meeting the age of consent as provided by state laws. The age of marriage differs from the age of majority and the age of consent for sexual relations.
There has been a recent push to end child marriage, and states have begun enacting “minimum marriage age" or "marriage age floor" laws.
Note: State laws on the age of consent are changing quickly. The ages of consent to marry for each state are accurate as of this writing, but parties are advised to check with their attorneys and state family codes before taking any action. Below, "age of consent" means to marry, not the age of consent to sexual contact.
Each state has its particular requirements and procedures for getting married. This article provides a brief overview of state-by-state marriage age of consent laws.
Overview of State-by-State Marriage Age of Consent Laws
The following chart briefly overviews the legal age for marriage in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and links to relevant statutes. For more details on a state's marriage age of consent laws, please read the statutes of that state.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16. After a hearing, the judge may grant permission to determine if marriage is in the minor's best interests. The other party to the marriage cannot be more than three years older.
The age of consent is 18. A person can marry at 16, as long as one party isn't more than three years older than the minor, and (1) the parents consent, or (2) the minor is emancipated.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 17.
The age of consent is 18. Minors under 18 can marry with written parental consent. There is a 30-day waiting period and a meeting with the judge before marriage.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent and a court order based on "the best interests of the child," a person can marry at 16. There may be no more than a three-year age gap between the parties.
The age of consent is 18. As of June 26, 2023, no one under 18 can marry.
The age of consent is 18. Minors cannot get married.
The age of consent is 18. With written parental consent, a person can marry at 17. There can only be a two-year age gap between the parties.
The age of consent is 18. Emancipated minors may marry at 17 with documentary proof of emancipation. There can be no more than a four-year age gap between the parties. The parties must complete a premarital education course.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16. A 15-year-old can marry with parental consent and a judicial court order.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a 16-year-old may marry, but there may be no more than a three-year age gap between the two parties.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16.
The age of consent is 18. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds may marry with parental consent, a judicial order, and proof of emancipation. There may be no more than a four-year age gap between the parties. Indiana requires marital counseling and a 15-day waiting period.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16.
The age of consent is 18. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds may marry with written consent from both parents and judicial consent. A judge will determine if marriage is in the best interests of the minor parties.
The age of consent is 18. Seventeen-year-olds can marry with written parental permission and a court order granting permission.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent and judicial approval, a minor who is 16 or 17 can marry a person less than three years older. No one under 16 can marry.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16. A person who is under 16 cannot marry. In June 2023, the governor signed a bill banning all marriages under the age of 17. This bill goes into effect 90 days from the date of signing.
The age of consent is 18. A person may marry at 17 if the person has parental consent or if they present proof of pregnancy or live birth and presents a certified copy of an order granting authorization to marry.
The age of consent is 18. Minors cannot get married.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16.
The age of consent is 18. Minors cannot get married.
The age of consent is 21. With parental consent, males can marry at 17, and females can marry at 15.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16. A person over 21 cannot marry someone younger than 18.
The age of consent is 18. A person can marry at 16 with parental consent, at least two counseling sessions, and a meeting with a judicial officer.
The age of consent is 19. Parental consent is required for minors 17 or 18 years old. No one under 17 may marry, even with their parents' permission.
The age of consent is 18. A person can marry at 17 with (1) parent or guardian consent; (2) proof of Nevada residence; (3) a court order.
The age of consent is 18. A person can marry at 16 with parental consent and the judge's consent. The order will only be granted with clear and convincing evidence that the marriage is in the best interests of the people below the age of consent. The order will not be granted if sexual contact constitutes sexual assault (i.e., statutory rape).
The age of consent is 18. Minors cannot get married.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16. A person under 16 can marry by order of a children's or family division of the district court.
The age of consent is 18. Minors cannot get married. Issuing a marriage license to a minor is a misdemeanor punishable by a $100 fine.
The age of consent is 18. Minors ages 16 and 17 may marry someone no more than four years older with a court order. The court must determine whether the marriage will serve the best interests of the underage party. Or, the person must have written consent from a parent.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16.
The age of consent is 18. With judicial consent, and as long as the parties are less than four years apart, minors can marry at age 17.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person may marry at 16. Minors under 16 may not marry unless authorized by court order.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 17.
The age of consent is 18. Minors cannot get married.
The age of consent is 18. Minors cannot get married.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 17. There may be no more than a four-year age gap between the parties. No marriage licenses will be issued in Tennessee for anyone younger than 17.
The age of consent is 18. Emancipated minors who are 16 or 17 can marry with proof of emancipation.
The age of consent is 18. A person can marry at 16 or 17 with parental consent and judicial approval. There may be no more than a seven-year age gap between the parties. 15-year-olds can no longer marry in Utah, even with parental permission, as 16 years of age is the minimum marriage age.
The age of consent is 18. With the signing of the Act to Ban Child Marriage in April 2023, minors may no longer marry in Vermont.
The age of consent is 18. Minors cannot get married unless they have been emancipated by court order. The minor must provide a certified copy of the order.
The age of consent is 18. With judicial approval, a person can marry at 17. A bill to raise the minimum age to 18 recently stalled in Washington's legislature.
The age of consent is 18. In March 2023, the governor signed legislation barring anyone under 16 from marrying and requiring 16- and 17-year-olds to get parental consent. There may be no more than a four-year age gap between partners.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16.
The age of consent is 18. With parental consent, a person can marry at 16. No person under 16 can marry with the signing of HB07 in February 2023.
The age of consent is 18. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds may get married with parental consent. Minors under 16 may not get married.
Puerto Rico
The age of consent and the age of majority is 21. Eighteen-year-olds must have parental consent to marry.
Learn More About Marriage Age of Consent Laws in Your State by Speaking to an Attorney
Issues surrounding underage marriage include:
- Children being coerced into forced marriages
- Failure to finish high school
- Increased levels of domestic violence and child abuse
- Other social concerns
Six states (Washington, California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Mississippi) have no minimum age for marriage.
Adults should be able to marry if they are of legal age, but child marriage has become a serious concern. State laws change daily, so couples planning to marry their high school sweethearts should review their state statutes to ensure they're all of the minimum marriage age.
You may want to contact a local family law attorney to ensure you comply with your state's requirements for a valid marriage.
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- Marriages involving prenups, significant debt, child custody issues, and property questions may need an attorney
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