What state allows the youngest marriage?
Samuel Coleman
Updated on May 12, 2026
Massachusetts has the lowest minimum marriage age with parental consent of 14 years old for boys and 12 years old for girls. Some states have different minimum ages for males and females, with or without parental consent.
What are the 13 states that allow child marriage?
These states are California, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.Can you marry a 12 year old in America?
This is a fact! While 18 is the minimum marriage age in most states, there are exceptions in every state that allow children younger than 18 to marry, typically with parental consent or judicial approval.How many states in the US allow child marriage?
“Child marriage is currently legal in 44 states (only Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have set the minimum age at 18 and eliminated all exceptions), and 20 U.S. states do not require any minimum age for marriage, with a parental or judicial waiver, reports the Times.What states have no age for marriage?
Among the states that have no lower age limit for marriage are California, Maine, Washington, Idaho, Long Island, West Virginia and New Mexico. Other states allow children to get married at age 14 or 16 with parental consent, but these 13 have no lower age limit at all.Child marriage still legal in United States
What states in America can you marry at 12?
However, California and Mississippi do not have minimum ages for minors to be allowed to marry with parental consent. Massachusetts has the lowest minimum marriage age with parental consent of 14 years old for boys and 12 years old for girls.Can 10 year olds get married in California?
In California, a person under 18 can marry with the consent of one parent and a judge, following a review of the case that includes interviews with the parties involved. The state is one of only nine in the nation that do not set a minimum age for marriage. There is no federal law banning child marriage.Can you marry at 14 in Michigan?
Under Michigan law, you need to be 18 to get married without restrictions. At age 16 and 17, you need parental consent. Those younger than 16 need a parent's and a judge's approval. With a judge's approval, there is no age limit.What country can you marry at 12?
And in Tanzania, Muslim and Hindu girls can marry at 12 as long as the marriage is not consummated until the girl reaches the age of 15. More than two dozen countries (27) require that one or both spouses be older than 18.Can a 12 year old get married in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts does not have a law specifying the minimum age at which a person can marry with a parent's consent. The process requires court approval, so whether or not to authorize the marriage of a particular minor is within a judge's discretion.Is child marriage legal in Texas?
The youngest age at which one can independently consent to marry in Texas is 18. Between age 16-18, only parental consent (or the consent of another person who has the legal authority to consent to marriage for an underage applicant) is required to obtain a marriage license.Is child marriage legal in Florida?
Child Marriage in FloridaChild marriage has been proven to lead to negative outcomes for children. In 2018, Florida lawmakers recognized this and passed legislation that closed the door on the dangerous loopholes in the law and prohibited the marriage of any child under the age of 17.
How old is the youngest bride?
Nujood Ali was just an eight-year-old child when her father arranged for her get married. She was one of 16 children.What is the youngest age you can get married in California?
California is one of only 11 states that has no minimum age requirement for marriage. With an OK from a parent and a judge, it's estimated that a couple thousand minors get married in California each year — most often a younger girl wedding an older man.What is the marriage age in China?
The minimum age for marriage is raised to 22 for the man and 20 for the woman, although in practice even later marriage is encouraged. Late marriage and late childbirth are emphasized as part of China's attempt to limit its population growth.What state has lowest age of consent?
States where age of consent is 15Most of the states start at the age of 16, However, Arizona, North Dakota, Oregon and Virginia states has minimum age of victim is 15.