Minimum Marriage Age in Every State (2026)
The minimum age to marry in each state and any exceptions.
| State | Minimum marriage age |
|---|---|
| Alabama | A person under 16 cannot marry. A 16- or 17-year-old who has not been married before needs the consent of a parent or guardian, given in a notarized affidavit filed with the probate court. Ala. Code §§ 30-1-4, 30-1-5 |
| Alaska | Each person must be 18 or older, unless a superior court judge grants permission or the person is an active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces. A judge may allow a 16- or 17-year-old to marry after a hearing if the marriage is in the minor's best interest, the other party is no more than three years older, and the parents consent (or are arbitrarily withholding consent, absent, in disagreement, or unfit to decide). No one under 16 may marry. AS 25.05.011, 25.05.171 |
| Arizona | Anyone under 16 may not marry. A 16- or 17-year-old may marry only if the prospective spouse is no more than three years older and either the minor has an emancipation order (from Arizona or another state) or the custodial parent or guardian consents. The clerk may not issue a license to a minor who does not meet these rules. A.R.S. § 25-102 |
| California | Anyone under 18 must have a parent's permission and permission from the court to get married. The judicial branch's self-help guide does not state a minimum age below which a court may not approve a marriage. California Courts Self-Help Guide, Emancipation in California |
| Colorado | Both parties must be 18, except that a 16- or 17-year-old may marry with judicial approval. The juvenile court, after reasonable efforts to notify the parents or guardians, appoints a guardian ad litem to investigate and may order the clerk to issue a license only if it finds the minor is capable of assuming the responsibilities of marriage and the marriage is in the minor's best interest; pregnancy alone does not establish best interest. A marriage in violation of the age rule is voidable. C.R.S. §§ 14-2-106(1), 14-2-108 |
| Connecticut | Both people must be at least 18. Connecticut removed the former exception that allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with consent, effective July 1, 2023, so there is no exception for minors. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-20a (as amended by P.A. 23-44 and P.A. 25-72) |
| Delaware | No one under 18 may be granted a marriage license. There are no exceptions for parental consent or court approval; the former consent provisions have been repealed. 13 Del. C. § 123 |
| District of Columbia | The minimum age to marry is 18, and the clerk may not issue a license to anyone under 18. There is no exception for parental consent or court approval. D.C. Code §§ 46-403(4), 46-411 |
| Florida | No license may be issued to anyone under 18, except a 17-year-old who has the written consent of a parent or legal guardian, acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments, and only if the older party is no more than two years older. Fla. Stat. § 741.04(1) |
| Georgia | Both people must be at least 18, except a 17-year-old who has been emancipated (by operation of law or by court order) may marry if at least 15 days have passed since the emancipation, the other party is no more than four years older, and each 17-year-old presents a certificate of premarital education. No license may be issued to anyone under 17. O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2 |
| Hawaii | Each party must be at least 16. With written approval of the family court in the circuit where the minor lives, a 15-year-old may marry, but never anyone younger than 15. Anyone under 18 needs the written consent of a parent, guardian or other person with care and custody of the minor, filed with the license application; a minor under the family court's jurisdiction also needs a family court judge's written consent. Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 572-1(2), 572-2 |
| Idaho | Adults 18 and older may marry. A 16- or 17-year-old may marry only with the sworn, written consent of a parent or guardian, and may not marry an adult who is three or more years older. If both parties are 16 or 17, each must give the county recorder an original or certified birth certificate or other acceptable proof of age. No license may be issued to anyone under 16. Idaho Code §§ 32-202, 32-403(1) |
| Illinois | Each party must be 18 when the license takes effect, or 16 or 17 with the consent of both parents or a guardian, or with judicial approval. If one parent cannot be located after diligent efforts, the other parent's consent plus an affidavit describing the search counts as both. A court may order a license for a 16- or 17-year-old who has no parent able to consent or whose parent will not consent, but only if it finds the minor can assume the responsibilities of marriage and the marriage is in the minor's best interest; pregnancy alone does not establish best interest. 750 ILCS 5/203(1), 5/208 |
| Indiana | Both people must be at least 18, with one exception: a 16- or 17-year-old may marry someone no more than four years older only after a juvenile court grants an order approving the marriage and completely emancipating the minor. The court holds a hearing, appoints a guardian ad litem, interviews the minor privately, and must find the minor's decision is voluntary, the minor is mature and self-supporting independent of parents and the intended spouse, understands the consequences, and that the marriage and emancipation are in the minor's best interest. The license application can be made no earlier than 15 days after that order. Ind. Code §§ 31-11-1-4, 31-11-1-5, 31-11-1-7 |
| Iowa | Both parties must be 18 or older. A 16- or 17-year-old may get a license only if the parents (or, in some cases, one parent or a guardian) certify their consent in writing and a district judge approves it, finding the minor able to assume the responsibilities of marriage and that the marriage serves the minor's best interest; pregnancy alone does not establish best interest. If a parent unreasonably withholds consent, the judge can review the request. Iowa law sets no path for anyone under 16. Iowa Code §§ 595.2, 595.3 |
| Kansas | A license will not be issued to anyone under 16, except that a district judge may consent for a 15-year-old after investigation if the marriage is in that person's best interest. A 16- or 17-year-old needs the written consent of a parent or legal guardian plus the judge's consent; the judge's consent is not needed if both parents (or all living parents) and any legal guardian consent. If a 16- or 17-year-old's parents have died and there is no guardian, a judge may consent. Kansas does not recognize a common-law marriage if either party is under 18. K.S.A. 23-2505(c), 23-2502 |
| Kentucky | Marriage of a person under 18 is prohibited and void, except as KRS 402.210 allows. No license may be issued if either party is under 17. A 17-year-old may marry only with a family court (or District Court) order granting permission and removing the disabilities of minority; the petition must include a parent or custodian's sworn consent and proof of maturity and self-sufficiency. The court must deny the petition if, among other things, the age difference is more than four years, abuse or coercion is present, or it is not in the minor's best interest. At least 15 days must pass after the order before a license is issued. KRS 402.020(1)(f), 402.205, 402.210(2)-(3) |
| Louisiana | No marriage license may be issued to, and no ceremony performed for, a minor under 16. A 16- or 17-year-old may marry only with both written consent (from both parents, the tutor, or the person awarded custody) and judicial authorization. A judge may authorize the marriage only for a compelling reason and after considering the minor's best interest at a hearing in chambers, including separate interviews and an inquiry into trafficking, abuse or coercion. No license may be issued to a 16- or 17-year-old if the age difference between the parties is three years or more. A 16- or 17-year-old is fully emancipated by marriage. La. R.S. 9:221(B); La. Ch.C. arts. 1545, 1547, 1548; La. C.C. art. 367 |
| Maine | The clerk or State Registrar may not issue a marriage license to anyone under 18. The earlier provisions allowing marriage of 16- and 17-year-olds with consent have been repealed, so there is no parental-consent or court-approval exception in the current statute. 19-A M.R.S. § 652(7)-(8) |
| Maryland | A person under 17 may not marry. A 17-year-old may marry only with the consent of each living parent, guardian or legal custodian (or, without that consent, a medical certificate of pregnancy or birth), and must also present to the clerk a certified court order authorizing the minor to marry, no earlier than 15 days after the order was issued. Md. Code, Fam. Law § 2-301 |
| Massachusetts | A magistrate or minister may not perform a marriage if either party is under 18. The statute contains no exception for parental consent or court approval. M.G.L. c. 207, § 7 |
| Michigan | An individual under 18 may not marry in Michigan, and a marriage entered into in Michigan by someone under 18 is void. The statute has no parental-consent or court-approval exception. MCL 551.51, 551.103(1) |
| Minnesota | A person must be at least 18 to marry in Minnesota. The statute contains no exception for parental consent or court approval. Minn. Stat. § 517.02 |
| Missouri | No recorder may issue a marriage license to anyone under 18. The current statute has no parental-consent or court-approval exception. RSMo § 451.090 |
| Montana | The license requires proof that each party will be 18 when the license takes effect, or 16 or 17 with judicial approval. The district court may approve a 16- or 17-year-old's marriage if the minor has the consent of both parents (or the parent with care and control, or a guardian) or has no parent capable of consenting. The court must require both parties to attend at least two marriage counseling sessions at least 10 days apart, and may approve only if it finds the minor can assume the responsibilities of marriage and the marriage is in the minor's best interest; pregnancy alone does not establish best interest. Mont. Code Ann. §§ 40-1-202(1), 40-1-213 |
| Nebraska | Both parties must be at least 17 at the time of marriage. Because Nebraska's age of majority is 19, a party who is a minor (17 or 18) needs written, sworn consent from a parent (the parent with legal custody if the parents live apart, or the surviving parent), or from a guardian, conservator or person with legal custody if both parents are deceased. Marriage ends a person's minority. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 42-102, 42-105, 43-2101(1) |
| Nevada | Two people who are at least 18 may marry. A 17-year-old may marry only with the consent of either parent or a legal guardian plus authorization from a district court, which may be granted only in extraordinary circumstances after an evidentiary hearing with sworn testimony from both parties, on clear and convincing evidence that both parties are Nevada residents and the marriage is in the minor's best interest. Pregnancy alone does not establish best interest. No one under 17 may marry. NRS 122.020, 122.025 |
| New Hampshire | No one under 18 can enter a valid marriage in New Hampshire, and any marriage by a person under 18 is void. The statute has no parental-consent or court-approval exception; RSA 457:5-a and 457:6 were repealed effective January 1, 2025. RSA 457:4, 457:5 |
| New Jersey | Both parties must be at least 18 years of age to marry in New Jersey. The Department of Health lists no parental-consent or court-approval exception. New Jersey Department of Health, Vital Statistics, Marriage License (Requirements for entering into a marriage) |
| New Mexico | A 16- or 17-year-old who is not emancipated may marry only with the written consent of each living parent shown on the birth certificate, or with district court authorization requested by a parent or guardian for good cause. A person under 16 may marry only if the children's or family court division of the district court authorizes it, on request of a parent or guardian, in settlement of a support and parentage case or where an applicant is pregnant. A certified copy of any court authorization must be filed with the county clerk. NMSA 1978, § 40-1-6 |
| New York | Marriage of minors under 18 is prohibited in New York. If either applicant is under 18, a marriage license cannot be issued. NYS Department of Health, Getting Married in New York State (Publication 4210) |
| North Carolina | Unmarried people 18 or older may marry. A person over 16 and under 18 may marry only someone no more than four years older, and only after filing with the register of deeds either written consent from a parent with full or joint legal custody (or a person or agency with legal custody or guardianship) or a certified district court order authorizing the marriage; an emancipated minor may file the emancipation decree instead of consent. A court may authorize the marriage only if the minor can assume the responsibilities of marriage and it serves the minor's best interest; pregnancy alone is not enough, and opposition by all living parents creates a presumption against it. Marriage under 16 is unlawful. N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 51-2, 51-2.1 |
| North Dakota | A person 18 or older may marry. A person aged 16 or 17 may get a marriage license only with the written consent of a parent or guardian (if there is one). No license may be issued to anyone under 16, even with parental consent. N.D. Cent. Code §§ 14-03-02, 14-03-17 |
| Ohio | The minimum age is 18. A 17-year-old may marry only if the juvenile court has filed a consent to the marriage, and if only one party is 17, the other may be no more than four years older. The probate court may then issue the license no earlier than 14 days after the juvenile court's consent, and 17-year-old applicants must state they received marriage counseling satisfactory to the court. Ohio Rev. Code §§ 3101.01, 3101.02, 3101.04, 3101.05 |
| Oklahoma | A person 18 or older may marry. A person under 18 may marry only with the consent of a parent or guardian, given in person before the issuing authority or in a written consent acknowledged before a judge or court clerk (other forms apply for out-of-state, ill or military parents); a district judge may consent if both parents are dead, incompetent or missing and no guardian has been appointed. A person under 16 may not marry unless a court authorizes it in settlement of a paternity case or when the female is pregnant or has given birth, with the parents or guardians having an opportunity to object. A parent of a child in the custody of the Department of Human Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice cannot give consent. Okla. Stat. tit. 43, § 3 |
| Oregon | Both parties must be at least 18. The statute, as amended in 2025 (Oregon Laws 2025, chapter 224), contains no exception allowing a minor to marry. Or. Rev. Stat. § 106.010 |
| Pennsylvania | No marriage license may be issued if either applicant is under 18. Since a 2020 amendment, there is no exception for parental consent or court approval. 23 Pa.C.S. § 1304(b) |
| Rhode Island | A marriage license may be granted only to a person who has reached 18. There is no exception for parental consent or court approval (law effective June 7, 2021). R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-2-14 |
| South Carolina | A person under 16 cannot enter a valid marriage (including common-law marriage); such marriages are void. A marriage license may not be issued to anyone under 16. For an applicant aged 16 or 17 who lives with a parent, other relative or guardian, the license requires a sworn affidavit of consent signed by that parent, relative or guardian. S.C. Code Ann. §§ 20-1-100, 20-1-250 |
| South Dakota | Both applicants must generally be 18 when the license is issued. A 16- or 17-year-old may marry only with either a circuit court order (after an in-person hearing, private meetings with each applicant, and written findings that the marriage is voluntary and in the minor's best interest; the license then cannot issue until 30 days after approval) or notarized written consent of both parents or the legal guardian of each minor applicant. No license may be issued under these exceptions if the applicants' ages differ by more than four years. S.D. Codified Laws §§ 25-1-9, 25-1-13, 25-1-13.1 |
| Texas | A person under 18 may not marry unless a Texas court (or another state's court) has removed the person's disabilities of minority for general purposes; the clerk cannot issue a license to an underage applicant without that order. Parental consent alone is not enough. Tex. Fam. Code §§ 2.003, 2.009, 2.101 |
| Utah | Marriage of anyone under 18 is generally void. A 16- or 17-year-old may marry only with in-person consent of a parent or legal guardian (with documents proving the relationship, identity and birth date) and written authorization from a juvenile court judge or commissioner, who must find the marriage voluntary and in the minor's best interest. The court must require premarital counseling (unless not reasonably available), may impose conditions such as continuing school, cannot authorize the marriage if the parties' ages differ by more than four years, and must wait at least 72 hours after the petition is filed. Utah Code §§ 81-2-303, 81-2-304, 81-2-403 |
| Vermont | No one under 18 may marry, and a town clerk may not knowingly issue a license if either party is under 18; there is no parental-consent or court exception (law effective July 1, 2023). An adult under guardianship needs the guardian's written consent. 18 V.S.A. § 5142 |
| Virginia | The minimum age to marry is 18; the statute, last amended in 2024, states no exceptions. Va. Code § 20-48 |
| Washington | Both parties must be at least 18. Any marriage in which either person is under 18 is void; the statute contains no exception for parental consent or court approval. RCW 26.04.010, 26.04.210 |
| West Virginia | The age of consent to marry is 18. The county clerk may issue a license to a 16- or 17-year-old only with valid written, acknowledged consent from the parent(s) or legal guardian(s), plus the minor's own signed affirmation that the marriage is voluntary and not coerced, and only if the other party is no more than four years older. Such a minor may seek an annulment without parental consent until turning 18. (Re-enacted in 2023.) W. Va. Code § 48-2-301 |
| Wisconsin | Anyone 18 or older may marry if otherwise competent. A person aged 16 or 17 may get a license with the written consent of a parent, guardian or custodian, given under oath before the county clerk or notarized, and filed with the application; if there is no parent, guardian or custodian (or the custodian is an agency), the probate court may give consent after notice and a hearing. The statute sets no path for anyone under 16. Wis. Stat. § 765.02 |
| Wyoming | The general minimum age is 18, and no one under 16 may marry. A 16- or 17-year-old may marry only with the consent of a parent, guardian or person having care and control (verbal if present, written and witnessed if absent) and approval by a district judge who authorizes the clerk to issue the license. Minors 16 or older who meet the legal requirements to contract or who have an emancipation decree may marry without judicial approval or anyone's consent. Wyo. Stat. §§ 20-1-102, 20-1-103(c) |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.