How Old Do You Have to Be to Get Married?
State by state
18 in most states. 17 states and DC allow no exceptions, the rest let 16 and 17 year olds marry with a parent or a judge. Here is every state's rule, checked 29 September 2026.
What is the legal marriage age? 18, with exceptions
You must be 18 to marry without anyone's permission in almost every US state (19 in Nebraska, 21 in Mississippi). 17 states and DC allow no marriage under 18 at all (Oklahoma's ban takes effect on 1 November 2026). The other 33 states let minors marry with a parent's consent, a judge's approval, or both.
Four tiers of marriage age law
Every state lands in one of four groups, based on the youngest age its law allows once all exceptions are counted.
- 18 only18
18, no exceptions
No license for anyone under 18. Parental consent, a judge or a pregnancy does not change that.
CTDEMEMAMIMNMONHNJNYOKORPARIVTVAWADC - From 178
Exceptions from 17
A 17 year old can marry with a parent's consent, a court's approval or emancipation. Nobody younger.
FLGAKYMDNENVOHTN - From 1620
Exceptions from 16
16 and 17 year olds can marry with consent, a judge or both. Many cap the age gap at three or four years.
ALAKAZARCOIDILINIALAMTNCNDSCSDTXUTWVWIWY - Under 165
Under 16 or no floor
A judge can approve a marriage below 16. Three of these states write no minimum age at all.
CAHIKSMSNM
Nebraska
Adulthood starts at 19 here, so an 18 year old still needs a parent's written consent under oath. The youngest possible age is 17.
Mississippi
Applicants under 21 must show the clerk their parents' consent. Below 17 for boys and 15 for girls, a judge can waive the age entirely.
Every state's marriage age, with the exceptions
Tap a tier to narrow the list. Each row names the statute, so you can open the law itself.
| State | Tier | Age with no exceptions | Youngest possible | What an under-18 marriage needs | Law and effective date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with a parent's or guardian's notarized affidavit. No judge involved. | Ala. Code § 30-1-4, § 30-1-5 |
| Alaska | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with a superior court judge's approval after a hearing, normally with parental consent. Spouse no more than 3 years older. | AS 25.05.171, in force 30 Nov 2022 (HB 62) |
| Arizona | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with a custodial parent's consent or an emancipation order. Spouse no more than 3 years older. | A.R.S. § 25-102 |
| Arkansas | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 17 with a notarized parental affidavit and a 5 business day wait. 16 only if pregnant or a parent, with a circuit judge and parental consent. | Ark. Code § 9-11-102, § 9-11-103 |
| California | Under 16 | 18 | No floor | Any age with a court order plus consent of at least one parent, after a Family Court Services interview. AB 1267 would end this (pending). | Cal. Fam. Code § 302, § 304 (SB 273, 2019) |
| Colorado | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with juvenile court approval. Pregnancy alone does not count as a reason. | C.R.S. § 14-2-106, § 14-2-108 |
| Connecticut | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | C.G.S. § 46b-20a, P.A. 23-44, in force 1 Jul 2023 |
| Delaware | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | 13 Del. C. § 123, 2018 (first state) |
| Florida | From 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 with written parental consent. Spouse no more than 2 years older. | Fla. Stat. § 741.04, in force 1 Jul 2018 |
| Georgia | From 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 only if emancipated, plus 6 hours of premarital education. Spouse no more than 4 years older. | O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2 |
| Hawaii | Under 16 | 18 | 15 | 16 or 17 with written parental consent. 15 with family court approval as well. Never under 15. | HRS § 572-1, § 572-2 |
| Idaho | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with sworn written parental consent. Spouse less than 3 years older. | Idaho Code § 32-202 |
| Illinois | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with consent of both parents or a guardian, or with a judge's approval. | 750 ILCS 5/203, 5/208 |
| Indiana | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with a juvenile court order that approves the marriage and fully emancipates the minor. Spouse no more than 4 years older. | Ind. Code § 31-11-1-4, -5, -7 |
| Iowa | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with parental consent and a district judge's approval. | Iowa Code § 595.2 |
| Kansas | Under 16 | 18 | 15 | 16 or 17 with both parents' consent, or one parent plus a judge. 15 only with a judge's approval. | K.S.A. § 23-2505 |
| Kentucky | From 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 with a court order that grants permission and removes the disability of minority. | KRS § 402.020, § 402.210, in force 14 Jul 2018 |
| Louisiana | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with a judge's authorization plus parental consent. No license if the age gap is 3 years or more. | La. Civil Code art. 90.1, 2019 |
| Maine | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | 19-A M.R.S. § 652, P.L. 2025 c. 47 |
| Maryland | From 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 with a circuit court order plus parental consent (or proof of pregnancy or birth). Nobody under 17. | Md. Fam. Law § 2-301, in force 1 Oct 2022 |
| Massachusetts | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | M.G.L. c. 207 § 7, 2022 |
| Michigan | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | MCL § 551.51, 2023 |
| Minnesota | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | Minn. Stat. § 517.02, in force 1 Aug 2020 |
| Mississippi | Under 16 | 21 | No floor | Under 21 needs parental consent. Below 17 (boys) or 15 (girls), a judge can waive the minimum age if the parents consent. | Miss. Code § 93-1-5 |
| Missouri | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | RSMo § 451.090, 2025 |
| Montana | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with district court approval, parental consent and two counseling sessions. | MCA § 40-1-202, § 40-1-213 |
| Nebraska | From 17 | 19 | 17 | 17 or 18 with a parent's or guardian's written consent under oath. No court step. | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-102, § 42-105 |
| Nevada | From 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 with a parent's consent and district court authorization in extraordinary circumstances. | NRS § 122.025, in force 1 Oct 2019 |
| New Hampshire | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | RSA 457:4, 2024 |
| New Jersey | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | N.J.S.A. 37:1-6, P.L. 2018 c. 42 |
| New Mexico | Under 16 | 18 | No floor | 16 or 17 with each living parent's consent or a district court order. Under 16 only by court order in a parentage case or where an applicant is pregnant. | NMSA § 40-1-6 |
| New York | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | DRL § 15-a, Ch. 306 of 2021 |
| North Carolina | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with a custodial parent's written consent or a district court order. Spouse no more than 4 years older. | N.C.G.S. § 51-2, § 51-2.1 |
| North Dakota | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with parental or guardian consent. Never under 16. | NDCC § 14-03-02 |
| Ohio | From 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 with juvenile court consent, then a 14 day wait. Spouse no more than 4 years older. | ORC § 3101.02, § 3101.04, in force 8 Apr 2019 |
| Oklahoma | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Banned from 1 Nov 2026. Until then, 16 or 17 with parental consent, and younger only by court order. | 43 O.S. § 3 as amended by SB 504, in force 1 Nov 2026 |
| Oregon | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | ORS § 106.010, 2025 |
| Pennsylvania | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | 23 Pa.C.S. § 1304, Act 18 of 2020 |
| Rhode Island | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-2-14, 2021 |
| South Carolina | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with a sworn affidavit from a parent, relative or guardian. Under 16 is void. | S.C. Code § 20-1-100, § 20-1-250 |
| South Dakota | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with a circuit court order and parental consent, then a 30 day wait. Age gap 4 years max. | SDCL § 25-1-9, SB 159, in force 1 Jul 2026 |
| Tennessee | From 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 with a parent's or guardian's consent under oath. Spouse less than 4 years older. | Tenn. Code § 36-3-105, § 36-3-106 |
| Texas | From 16 | 18 | 16 | Only with a court order removing the disabilities of minority (emancipation), available from 16. No parental consent route. | Tex. Fam. Code § 2.003, § 2.101, in force 1 Sep 2017 |
| Utah | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with parental consent and juvenile court approval, then a 72 hour wait. Spouse no more than 4 years older. | Utah Code § 81-2-304, SB 76, in force 7 May 2025 |
| Vermont | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | 18 V.S.A. § 5142, Act 8 of 2023 |
| Virginia | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | Va. Code § 20-48, 2024 c. 737 |
| Washington | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | RCW 26.04.010, 2024 |
| West Virginia | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with written parental consent. Spouse no more than 4 years older. | W. Va. Code § 48-2-301, HB 3018 (2023) |
| Wisconsin | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with a parent's or guardian's written consent under oath. | Wis. Stat. § 765.02 |
| Wyoming | From 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 or 17 with a judge's approval and parental consent, unless emancipated. | Wyo. Stat. § 20-1-102 |
| District of Columbia | 18 only | 18 | 18 | Not possible. No license is issued to anyone under 18. | D.C. Code § 46-411, 2025 |
51 states, swipe to browse
Sources: each state's marriage statute (linked in the sources section below), cross-checked against Unchained At Last's state tracker. Checked 29 September 2026. Laws change; confirm with your county clerk before you apply.
Changes in progress
Oklahoma: SB 504 became law without the Governor's signature on 13 May 2026 and bans marriage under 18 from 1 November 2026. Until that date the old law applies: 16 and 17 year olds can marry with parental consent, and younger minors only by court order.
California: AB 1267 would repeal the court order route and ban marriage under 18. It passed the Assembly and Senate and was presented to the Governor on 3 September 2026, but was not signed as of 29 September 2026. Bill history on leginfo.ca.gov.
Can you get married at 16, or 17?
The honest answer is: only in some states, and never on your own before 18.
- At 1733states allow it
Possible outside the ban states, usually with a parent's written consent, a court order or both. Several states add an age-gap limit.
- At 1625states allow it
Possible in fewer states. Some accept a parent's consent alone, others add a judge, and many cap how much older the other spouse can be.
- At 155states allow it
Only where the law sets a floor at 15 or sets no floor at all. A court order is the usual route.
- At 143states allow it
Only in the states with no written minimum age, and only with a parent plus a judge.
Counts come from the state table above. "Allow" means the law permits it with the required consent or court order, not that a clerk or judge must say yes.
Parental consent, a judge, or emancipation
Outside the ban states, these three routes are how a minor gets a license. Many states stack the first two.
Parental consent
A parent or legal guardian signs a sworn consent form at the clerk's office, usually in person, sometimes notarized.
Judicial approval
A judge reviews a petition, often with a hearing, and decides whether the marriage is in the minor's best interest.
Emancipation first
A court declares a 16 or 17 year old emancipated. Georgia, Indiana and Texas make this the route to marriage instead of parental consent.
How the exceptions work across states follows the Tahirih Justice Center's statute survey. Checked 29 September 2026.
States that banned marriage under 18, year by year
Delaware went first in 2018. Here is every state since, by the year its ban was enacted.
- 2018DelawareNew JerseyAmerican Samoa
Delaware became the first state with no exceptions at all.
- 2020PennsylvaniaMinnesotaUS Virgin Islands
- 2021Rhode IslandNew York
- 2022Massachusetts
- 2023VermontConnecticutMichigan
- 2024WashingtonVirginiaNew Hampshire
- 2025District of ColumbiaMaineOregonMissouri
- 2026Oklahoma
SB 504 became law on 13 May 2026 and takes effect on 1 November 2026.
- Next?California
AB 1267 passed both houses and was sent to the Governor on 3 September 2026. Not signed as of 29 September 2026.
The 2025 state of play, from the people tracking it
The Tahirih Justice Center walks through the 2025 bans and how the remaining state laws differ. About an hour, recorded November 2025.
Tahirih Justice Center on YouTubeYears from the Unchained At Last tracker, cross-checked against each state's statute. Checked 29 September 2026.
Marriage age around the world
Several countries moved to a flat 18 before most US states did. A few still allow 16.
| Country | Minimum age | Exceptions | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 18 in most states | 16 or 17 with consent or a judge in 33 states. Three states set no floor. | Varies by state |
| England and Wales | 18 | None. Parental consent no longer lowers the age. | 27 Feb 2023 |
| Scotland | 16 | No parental consent needed from 16. | Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 |
| Germany | 18 | None. The old family court exemption from 16 was removed. | 22 Jul 2017 |
| Japan | 18 | None. The age for women was raised from 16 to match men. | 1 Apr 2022 |
| Canada | 16 (federal floor) | Provinces set the consent rules for 16 and 17 year olds. | Civil Marriage Act, 2015 amendment |
| Australia | 18 | 16 or 17 only by court order in exceptional circumstances, and the other spouse must be 18 or over. | Marriage Act 1961, s. 11 and 12 |
Swipe for more countries
Sources: legislation.gov.uk, Germany's Federal Ministry of Justice, Japan's Ministry of Justice, Canada's Civil Marriage Act and Australia's Marriage Act 1961. Checked 29 September 2026.
Who marries under 18 in the US
The most cited count comes from marriage records gathered by Unchained At Last and published in the Journal of Adolescent Health in 2021.
Source: Fraidy Reiss, "Child Marriage in the United States: Prevalence and Implications," Journal of Adolescent Health, December 2021, with the figures as summarized in Unchained At Last's study findings. The 2000 to 2021 total is from the Unchained At Last tracker. Checked 29 September 2026.
What people get wrong about marriage age
Five beliefs that show up again and again in search, and what the statutes say.
| Belief | What the law says |
|---|---|
| Every state's minimum age is 18, full stop | Only 17 states have no exceptions. In the rest, 18 is the age without consent, not the floor. |
| Parental consent works everywhere at 16 | Many states that allow 16 also require a judge, and ban states allow nothing under 18 at all. |
| Marrying in another state gets around the rule | The clerk applies the law of the state that issues the license. Whether your home state then recognizes the marriage is a separate question, so check both. |
| Nebraska and Mississippi are 18 too | Nebraska's age of majority is 19, and Mississippi requires parental consent until 21. Both still allow younger marriages with approval. |
| These laws have been stable for decades | Since 2018 a new state has banned marriage under 18 almost every year, and California's bill reached the governor in September 2026. |
Swipe for all 5
How to get married once you are 18
For adults the age question ends at the clerk's counter. Five steps, the same in almost every county.
- 1
Check the rules in the county you will marry in
The license comes from the county or town clerk where the wedding happens, not where you live.
- 2
Bring photo ID and proof of age
A driver's license, passport or state ID works in most counties. Some also ask for a birth certificate.
- 3
Apply together for the marriage license
Many clerks want both partners there in person. Fees and appointment rules differ by county.
- 4
Wait out any waiting period
Some states make you wait a day or more before the ceremony, and every license has an expiry date, so check how long yours is valid.
- 5
Hold the ceremony and return the signed license
Your officiant signs it and files it. The certified certificate follows by mail or pickup.
Fees, waiting periods and license expiry differ by state and county. Our marriage license requirements guide lists them.
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Marriage age words, decoded
- Minimum marriage age
- The youngest age at which the law allows a person to marry at all, with every exception counted.
- Age of majority
- The age a person becomes a legal adult. It is 18 in most states. Nebraska requires parental consent until 19 and Mississippi until 21.
- Parental consent
- Written permission from a parent or legal guardian, signed at or filed with the clerk.
- Judicial approval
- A court order allowing a minor to marry, usually after a petition and hearing.
- Emancipation
- A court ruling that gives a minor adult legal status before 18.
- No exceptions ban
- A law setting 18 as the minimum age with no consent, court or pregnancy exception.
- Age-gap limit
- A cap on how much older the adult spouse can be, used by some exception states.
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Where these numbers come from
Every state rule was checked against its statute text, read on the state's own code site or in the Tahirih Justice Center's statutory compilation, then against Unchained At Last's tracker. Checked 29 September 2026.
- Unchained At Last: child marriage in the USBan states and the year each ban was enacted, plus the 2000 to 2021 total.
- Tahirih Justice Center: Statutory Text Compilation (Sept 2025)The marriage age statute text for all 50 states, DC and the territories.
- Oklahoma Senate: SB 504 becomes lawOklahoma's ban, law since 13 May 2026, in force 1 November 2026.
- California AB 1267 bill historyStatus of California's pending ban.
- South Dakota SB 159 session law (2026)Court order now required for 16 and 17 year olds, from 1 July 2026.
- Florida Statutes § 741.04Florida's 17 year old rule and 2 year age gap.
- Journal of Adolescent Health (PubMed 34809905)Reiss, Child Marriage in the United States, 2021: the 297,033 study.
- legislation.gov.uk: SI 2023/88England and Wales minimum age of 18 in force 27 February 2023.
- German Civil Code § 1303Marriage only after reaching adulthood.
- Japan Ministry of JusticeMarriage age unified at 18 from 1 April 2022.
- Canada: Civil Marriage ActSection 2.2: no marriage under 16.
- Australia: Marriage Act 1961Sections 11 and 12: marriageable age 18, court route at 16 or 17.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Clerks apply the law in force on the day you apply, so confirm with the county clerk before you plan around a date.
More on the legal side of getting married
Why the legal marriage age keeps changing
Since 2018, state after state has swapped its consent and court exceptions for a flat minimum of 18. Delaware and New Jersey went first. By September 2026, 17 states and DC had done it.
The remaining states change their rules through ordinary sessions, sometimes twice in a few years. Treat any single age you read online, this page included, as a starting point and confirm it with the clerk.
How to read the state table
"Age with no exceptions" is the age at which you can marry on your own. "Youngest possible" is the lowest age the statute allows once every exception is counted. "No floor" means the statute names no minimum age once a judge approves.
Where a law has been signed but is not yet in force, the row says so and gives the date it takes effect.
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How old do you have to be to get married? Your questions
Short answers on age, consent and judges, based on the state table above.
You have to be 18 to marry without anyone's permission in almost every state (19 in Nebraska, 21 in Mississippi). 17 states and DC allow no marriage under 18 at all (Oklahoma's ban takes effect on 1 November 2026). The other 33 states allow 16 or 17 year olds, and in 3 states even younger minors, with parental consent, a judge's approval or both.
Yes, in 25 states, and never on your own. Some accept a parent's consent alone, others require a judge's approval as well. In the 17 ban states and DC, nobody under 18 can marry. Check the state table above for the exact rule where you live.
In most states that allow it, no. A 17 year old needs a parent's written consent there. Kentucky and Ohio use a court order instead, and Georgia, Indiana and Texas require emancipation by a court. In the ban states nobody under 18 can marry at all.
It depends on the state. Consent alone usually opens the door at 17, sometimes 16. Going younger almost always takes a judge as well. In 3 states (California, Mississippi, New Mexico) the statute sets no minimum age once a judge approves, and New Mexico limits that to pregnancy or parentage cases.
California currently sets no minimum age: a minor can marry with a parent's consent and a court order. AB 1267 would ban marriage under 18. It reached the Governor's desk on 3 September 2026 and was not signed as of 29 September 2026.
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington. Oklahoma joins them on 1 November 2026, when SB 504 takes effect. DC, American Samoa and the US Virgin Islands have also banned it.
Only in the 3 states with no written minimum age, and only with both a parent's consent and a judge's approval. Everywhere else, 14 is below the legal floor.
Yes. England and Wales, Germany and Japan all set 18 with no exceptions. Scotland lets 16 year olds marry without parental consent. Canada's federal floor is 16, and Australia allows 16 or 17 only with a court order and a spouse who is 18 or older.