{"id":373756,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:26","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/maine-law\/maine-marriage-age-requirements-laws.html"},"modified":"2020-08-17T16:21:39","modified_gmt":"2020-08-17T21:21:39","slug":"maine-marriage-age-requirements-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/maine-law\/maine-marriage-age-requirements-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Maine Marriage Age Requirements Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Maine Marriage Age Requirements Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Every state has laws to regulate aspects of marriage, such as who can marry<\/a>. To marry, you need to obtain a marriage license, but to get the license, you must be at least a certain age, as specified by your state. Adults can marry who they want, but minors are typically not allowed to marry.<\/p>\r\n

Marriage Is a Contract<\/h2>\r\n

Marriage is essentially a contract, so you must have the capacity to contract, therefore, be an adult or have your parent\u2019s permission. In Maine, the legal age of accountability for contracts is 18 years old<\/a>, also known as "the age of majority." However, you can get married under 18 sometimes, such as with court or parental consent. Once married, a minor is automatically emancipated<\/a> and treated as if he or she is an adult.<\/p>\r\n

Child Brides<\/h2>\r\n

Even when a state permits marriage with parental or court permission, there\u2019s usually still a minimum age to prevent very young children from marrying. Unfortunately, these marriage age laws haven\u2019t completely eradicated the issue of child brides<\/a> in the U.S. today. While we commonly associate this phenomenon with poorer countries, the Tahirih Justice Center estimates there are as many as 3,000 cases<\/a> of forced marriages of minor girls in the United States.<\/p>\r\n

Marriage Age Requirements in Maine<\/h2>\r\n

The following table lists the minimum legal ages for marriage in Maine under various circumstances.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Code Section<\/b><\/td>\r\nMaine Code Revised Title 19-A, Section 652: Issuance of Marriage License<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Minimum Legal Age Generally<\/b><\/td>\r\nAdult men and women can marry at the age of 18, which is the age of majority in Maine.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Minimum Legal Age With Parental Consent<\/b><\/td>\r\nTeenage boys and girls age 16 and 17 can marry with the written consent of their parents, guardians, or custodians.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Court Approved Marriage<\/b><\/td>\r\nChildren under the age of 16 cannot marry.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

If you\u2019re considering getting married in Maine, it\u2019s a good idea to read up on the marriage laws in your state<\/a>. For a more successful marriage, you could involve your family, friends, and religious community before marrying, as appropriate.<\/p>\r\n

If you have any burning questions about marriage, you may want to speak with an experienced local family law attorney<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Note:<\/i><\/b> State laws change all the time. It\u2019s best to contact a knowledgeable attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify these state marriage laws.<\/i><\/p>\r\n

Research the Law<\/h2>\r\n