While only three states, California, Kansas, and Massachusetts, have no statutory minimum age under which marriage licenses will not be issued, many states with a minimum age requirement do permit marriages between minors under that age. Virtually all states allowing the marrying of minors require court approval in addition to parental consent. A growing number of states now require counseling for minors seeking to marry. Provisions for underage marriages exist in order to permit pregnant minor females and/or couples to marry, and prevailing code language still clearly reflects that bias. Ohio has the most explicit rule on this issue. In that state, the juvenile court is authorized to grant official consent to the marriage of underage persons, and the probate court issues the license. According to Ohio statutes, the probate court may delay issuing the license until the court is convinced that the female is pregnant and will carry the child to term or may even delay issuance of the license until the baby is born.
Table 29: Marriage Age Requirements
| State | Code Section | Minimum Legal Age With Parental Consent | Minimum Legal Age Without Parental Consent | Comments |
| ALABAMA | 30-1-4, 5 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Marriage under 16 is voidable, not void. Marriage between 16 and 18 without parental consent is not grounds for annulment. |
| ALASKA | 25.05.171 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Superior court judge may grant permission for person over 14 at hearing with parents and minor. |
| ARIZONA | 25-102 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 may be allowed to marry with parental consent and approval of superior court judge. |
| ARKANSAS | 9-11-102 to 105 | Male: 17; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under minimum age may obtain license in case of pregnancy or birth of child, with parental consent and judicial order. |
| CALIFORNIA | Family §300-303 | Male: No age limit; Female: No age limit | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 18 need parental consent and a court order obtained on the showing the court requires |
| COLORADO | 14-2-106, 108 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 may be allowed to marry with parental consent and/or approval of juvenile court judge (if parents not living together). |
| CONNECTICUT | 46b-30 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 may be allowed to marry with parental consent and consent of probate judge. |
| DELAWARE | Tit. 13 §123 | Male: 18; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under minimum age may obtain license in case of pregnancy or birth of child with medical certification. |
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | §46-403, 411 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Parental consent not required if minor was previously married. |
| FLORIDA | 741.0405 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Parental consent not required if minor was previously married or parents are deceased. Under age 18, a county judge has discretion whether or not to give license if the couple has a child or is expecting one (upon sworn affidavits that they are the parents). |
| GEORGIA | 19-3-2, 19-3-37 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under minimum age may obtain license without parental consent in case of pregnancy or birth of child. Parents must appear before judge to consent to marriage. |
Table 29: Marriage Age Requirements—Continued
| State | Code Section | Minimum Legal Age With Parental Consent | Minimum Legal Age Without Parental Consent | Comments |
| HAWAII | §572-1 (2), 572-2 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | In certain circumstances, 15 year olds may obtain license, but never under 15. |
| IDAHO | 32-202 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under age 16 may obtain license with parental consent and order of the court. |
| ILLINOIS | 750 ILCS 5/203, 5/208 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | If no parents to consent, judicial consent with finding that parties are capable of marriage. No provisions for marriage under age 16. |
| INDIANA | 31-11-1-4 to 31-11-1-6 | Male: 17; Female: 17 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors ages 15-17 may obtain license in case of pregnancy, birth of child and with approval of judge of superior or county court. |
| IOWA | 595.2 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female:18 | Minors 16-17 may obtain license without parental consent with approval of court if both parents dead or incompetent or marriage in parties' best interest. |
| KANSAS | 23-106 | Male: not specified; Female: not specified | Male: 18; Female: 18 | No statutory provision for minimum age with consent. Common law prevails. See State v. Wade, 766 P. 2d 811 at 815. |
| KENTUCKY | 402.020 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under age 18 may obtain license without parental consent in case of pregnancy or birth of child and with permission of district court judge. |
| LOUISIANA | Children's Code Art. 1545, et seq. | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minor under 16 must obtain both parental consent and authorization of court. |
| MAINE | 19-A §652 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 may be allowed to marry with parental consent and approval of court. |
| MARYLAND | Fam. Law 2-301 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 15 yrs. old may not marry. Minors 15 yrs. old may obtain license in case of pregnancy or birth of child with parental consent. |
| MASSACHUSETTS | Ch. 207§7, 24, 25 | Male: not specified; Female: not specified | Male: 18; Female: 18 | No statutory provision for minimum age with consent. Common law prevails. If parent deserted or incapable of consent, not necessary to obtain consent. |
| MICHIGAN | MCLA §551.51 & 551.103; 551.201 | Male: 16; Female: 16; (consent of 1 of the parents required of both sexes) | Male: 18; Female: 18 |
Table 29: Marriage Age Requirements—Continued
| State | Code Section | Minimum Legal Age With Parental Consent | Minimum Legal Age Without Parental Consent | Comments |
| MINNESOTA | 517.02 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | |
| MISSISSIPPI | 93-1-5 | Male: 17; Female: 15 | Male: 21; Female: 21 | Minors under minimum age may obtain license with parental consent and approval of court. Minor females age 15 yrs. and older and males 17 yrs. and older but under 21 may obtain license with parental consent and court order. |
| MISSOURI | 451.090 | Male: 15; Female: 15 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 15 may obtain license under special circumstances and for good cause. |
| MONTANA | 40-1-213; 40-1-202 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors age 16 or 17 must participate in marriage counseling and must show capable of marriage. |
| NEBRASKA | 42-102, 42-105 | Male: 17; Female: 17 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | |
| NEVADA | 122.020, 025 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 may obtain license by parental consent and approval of court in extraordinary circumstances. |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE | 457:4 to 457:6 | Male: 14; Female: 13 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Any marriage contracted by persons under 18 may, in discretion of superior court, be annulled at suit of the party who at the time of marriage was under 18. The parent or guardian can also annul, unless the parties confirm marriage upon reaching age of consent (18 years). |
| NEW JERSEY | 37:1-6 | Male: 16; Female: 16 (unless parents of unsound mind) | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 may obtain license by parental consent and approval of court. If male under 18 yrs. old and has been arrested on charge of sexual intercourse with single female who thereby became pregnant, consent not required. |
| NEW MEXICO | 40-1-5 to 6 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 may only obtain license by order of children's court or family division of district court. Courts may authorize marriage in settlement of action to compel support, and establish parentage, or in case of pregnancy. |
Table 29: Marriage Age Requirements—Continued
| State | Code Section | Minimum Legal Age With Parental Consent | Minimum Legal Age Without Parental Consent | Comments |
| NEW YORK | Dom. Rel. §§7, 15, 15a | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 must have approval of parents and court. Minors 16 and 17 must have only parental consent. No license to minors under 14. |
| NORTH CAROLINA | 51-2, 51-2.1 | Male: 16; Female: 16 (One or both parents' consent unless minor has certificate of emancipation) | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors 14-15 may obtain license with court order in case of pregnancy or birth of child. |
| NORTH DAKOTA | 14-03-02 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | No license issued to persons under 16. |
| OHIO | 3101.01 to 3101.05 | Male: 18; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Parties under minimum age may marry with consent of juvenile court where female is pregnant and intends to have the child. |
| OKLAHOMA | Tit. 43 §3 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 may obtain license in case of pregnancy or birth of child with parental consent and court authorization. |
| OREGON | 106.010, 106.060 | Male: 17; Female: 17 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | If parent is out of state and either party is a resident, parental consent not required. |
| PENNSYLVANIA | Tit. 23 §1304(1) to (2) | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 may obtain license with parental consent and approval of court if in best interest of applicant. |
| RHODE ISLAND | 15-2-11 | Male: 18; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Younger parties may obtain license in special circumstances. |
| SOUTH CAROLINA | 20-1-250, 20-1-300 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Younger parties may obtain license in case of pregnancy or birth of child (with proof of pregnancy from doctor) and with consent of one of the parents of the female. |
| SOUTH DAKOTA | 25-1-9 | Male: 16; Female: 16; (consent of 1 parent) | Male: 18; Female: 18 | |
| TENNESSEE | 36-3-104 to 107 | Male: 16; Female: 16; (3 day waiting period except for certain circumstances where waived) | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 may obtain license in special circumstances. |
Table 29: Marriage Age Requirements—Continued
| State | Code Section | Minimum Legal Age With Parental Consent | Minimum Legal Age Without Parental Consent | Comments |
| TEXAS | §2.102 §2.101, 2.103 | Male: 14; Female: 14; (consent must be given during 30 day period immediately preceding the date of application for license) | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 18 can petition court in his own name for permission to marry |
| UTAH | 30-1-2; 30-1-9; 30-1- 30, 31 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Exceptions may be made for persons who are 15 yrs. old with court approval. A minor who is 15 yrs. old and his or her parent must petition to the court for permission for the minor to marry. |
| VERMONT | Tit. 18 §5142 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 may obtain license with parental consent and court order that "public good" requires them to be married. Marriage when minor is under 14 is prohibited. |
| VIRGINIA | 20-48, 49 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Parental consent not required if minor was emancipated. Minors under 16 may obtain license in case of pregnancy or birth of child with parental consent and proof of pregnancy from a doctor. |
| WASHINGTON | 26.04.010 | Male: 17; Female: 17 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 17 may obtain license in special circumstances. |
| WEST VIRGINIA | 48-2-301 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 may obtain license with parental consent and court order. |
| WISCONSIN | 765.02 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | |
| WYOMING | 20-1-102 | Male: 16; Female: 16 | Male: 18; Female: 18 | Minors under 16 may obtain license in special circumstances. |
User Comments Add a comment…
19 days ago
ok in nc you cant getr maried without a court order but in sc and virginia you can as long as your pregnent and you have parental consent so im hoping that i can get married to my childs father any ideas.....? by the way in 15 and hes 19 so i really need help!!!!
19 days ago
im only 16 and my boyfriend is 18 yrs old. we want to get married because we already were sexually involved. My parents dont like him and they told me they wont give me the concent. We live in the state of PA please tell me what do i need to do... and if i cant get married because i cant get any concent what would happen if i move out with him... and if i move out with him can we get married?????
about 1 month ago
I'm 17 and my girlfriend is 16 and we don't know what to do. Cuz we found out this morning that she is pregnant, but neither her parents or my parents will give either of us consent to marry. And we plan to have the child. So how would I have to go about this in court????
2 months ago
I'm 17 and my fiance is 18 but my mother does not like us dating and we want to get married soooo desperately. We are not sure what to do and i love him with all my heart. It's difficult when your parent doesn't like your fiance because she refuses to give me parental consent. What should we do a.s.a.p????
2 months ago
http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/FA/content/htm/fa.001.00.000002.00.htm Texas appears to be 16 with parental consent, not 14, according to the Texas state website above...
2 months ago
I want to get married but the state of arkansas won't let me get married at the age I am now. I wondered if I get married in another state and come back to arkansas will I still be married???????
3 months ago
im 17 going on 18 my girlfriend is 16 and wants to get married will state of ohio let us get married
5 months ago
well, here's the thing, i am 17 years old. and im in the army. my boyfriend is going to be 21 in march. i was woundering how that would work out if we want to be married a.s.a.p. because my aunt that i live with(guardian) doesn't like us dating because of his age, and if she found out that i might be pregnant she will never let me see him again. i love him dearly, and i want us to be married but i don't know how it would work, cause i won't get parent consent, please help...
5 months ago
I have a question concerning underage marrage in New Mexico. I am seventeen and he just turned nineteen. My parents don't want me to get married right now. However, I am one month pregnant and we love each other more than anything. Would we be allowed to get married? What would we need to do to be able to get married through a court system?
5 months ago
I live in the state of New Mexico. Can two people who are both 17 get married if they both have perental consent? Or does one of them have to be 18?
6 months ago
how old are you aloud to get married in uk
9 months ago
I'm just gone give everybody my opinion. Everyone knows that this day in time teenagers are going be sexually active. I also belive that you should be married to do that. But most people fall into their temtations. So i believe that as long as your parents will sign, you should be able to get married with out an age minumum limit.