By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Nicole Prebeck, Esq. | Last reviewed December 30, 2022
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There are a variety of legal requirements a couple must meet before they can get married. These requirements include getting a marriage license, being of sound mind, and meeting the age of consent as provided by state laws.
While each state will have its own particular requirements and procedures for getting married, this article provides a brief overview of state-by-state marriage age of consent laws.
The following chart provides a brief overview of the age of consent for marriage in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico as well as 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 eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. The judge may grant permission after a hearing and the marriage is determined to be in the best interest of the minor, and the other party to the marriage is not more than three years older. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. A person can marry at sixteen, as long as one party isn't more than three years older than the minor, and 1) their parent consents, or 2) they are emancipated. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at seventeen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With written parental consent of at least one parent of each underage person, can marry under the age of eighteen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent and a court order based on "the best interest of the child," a person can marry at sixteen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent and a court order from the Probate Court approving the marriage, a person can marry at sixteen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With written parental consent, a person can marry at seventeen as long as one party isn't more than two years older than the minor. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. Emancipated minors (must provide documentary proof of emancipation) who are seventeen can marry, but not to someone more than four years older. Each party to the marriage contract who is seventeen must complete a premarital education course. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person who is sixteen can marry with parental consent, and a person who is fifteen can marry with parental consent and a judicial court order. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen or seventeen, but only if there is no more than a three-year age gap between the two parties. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. However, two individuals may marry each other if both are at least sixteen, or one of the individuals is not more than four years older than the other. Minors must be granted a judicial order with approval to marry and complete emancipation. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. | |
| Kansas | The age of consent is eighteen. Two individuals who are both sixteen or seventeen may marry with written parental consent from the parents of each party. They must also get judicial approval by the court, which will happen if the marriage is found in the best interest of the underage individual(s). |
| The age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent and judicial approval, a minor who is sixteen or seventeen can marry a person less than three years older. No one under sixteen can marry. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person who is under sixteen cannot marry. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. A person may marry at seventeen if the person has parental consent and the individual presents a certified copy of an order granting authorization to marry. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married. | |
| The age of consent is twenty-one. With parental consent, males can marry at seventeen and females can marry at fifteen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person over twenty-one cannot marry someone under the age of eighteen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent and after at least two separate counseling sessions, a person can marry at sixteen. | |
| The age of consent is nineteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at seventeen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. A person can marry at seventeen with: (1) parental or guardian consent; (2) proof of Nevada residence; (3) a court order. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent and the consent of the judge, a person can marry at sixteen. The order will only be granted upon clear and convincing evidence that the marriage is in the best interest of the person(s) below the age of consent. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person under sixteen can marry by order of a children's or family division of the district court. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married. If a town or city clerk knowingly issues a marriage license to anyone, they may face a misdemeanor crime and a conviction in the form of a hundred-dollar fine. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. Minors aged sixteen and seventeen may marry a person no more than four years older with a court order, where the court will determine whether the marriage will serve the best interest of the underage party. Or, the individual must have written consent from a parent. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With judicial consent, and so long as the parties are less than four years apart, minors can marry at age seventeen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With written consent, a person may marry at sixteen. Every person under the age of sixteen is expressly forbidden and prohibited from marrying unless when expressly authorized by the court in specific situations. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at seventeen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at seventeen; however, one party cannot be more than four years older than the minor. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. Emancipated minors who are sixteen or seventeen can legally marry with a court order granting the removal of the disabilities of minority of the person. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent and judicial approval, a person can marry at sixteen or seventeen. The other party must not be more than seven years older than the underage individual. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. The minimum age for marriage is eighteen unless the minor has been emancipated by a court order. Upon application for a marriage license, an emancipated minor shall provide a certified copy of the order of emancipation. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With judicial approval, a person can marry at seventeen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person under sixteen can marry with parental consent and judicial approval. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at the age of sixteen. | |
| The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person under the age of sixteen can marry with judicial approval. | |
| The age of consent is sixteen. Minors under the age of sixteen may not get married. | |
Puerto Rico |
The age of consent is twenty-one. Minors of at least eighteen years of age do not need parental, guardian, or judicial authorization to contract marriage in those cases where it is proven that the betrothed woman has been raped, seduced, or is pregnant. |
Planning the big day should be a joyous and stress-free endeavor, but some couples may have questions about the validity of their union - specifically, the required age of consent.
In order to ensure that you're complying with the requirements for a valid marriage in your state, you may want to contact a local family law attorney.
Contact a qualified family law attorney to make sure your rights are protected.
Get tailored family law advice and ask a lawyer questions. Many attorneys offer free consultations.