California Marriage Age Requirements Laws

State laws regulating age limits for marriage are generally similar, although California is one of just a few states lacking a minimum age for marriage. However, minors (under the age of 18) must obtain both parental consent and a court order before they may legally tie the knot. Although couples seldom get married before they reach the age of majority, it is made available primarily to allow pregnant minors to marry.

In addition to obtaining parental consent in order to get married, anyone who is under 18 must also see a pre-marriage counselor, appear before a judge, produce copies of your birth certificate, and even have a parent accompany you when you apply for your marriage license. Requirements for parental consent (and the presence of a parent when obtaining a license) may be waived if the parent has abandoned the family, is out of the country, or no longer living.

Even in states where there are statutory limits on how old individuals must be to get married (with parental consent), exceptions are made in certain situations -- including pregnancy or the presence of a child. Therefore, California is not too much different than other states when you consider how these laws are enforced.

The California Department of Public Health provides additional information about California marriage licenses.

The brief table below outlines the basics of California's marriage age requirement. See Marriage Requirements Basics: Consent, Age, and Capacity for more information, and check FindLaw's extensive Marriage Law section for more articles and resources covering a wide variety of topics.

Note: State laws are always subject to change through a number of means, including the enactment of newly signed legislation and the decisions of higher courts. You may want to contact a California family law attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Research the Law:

• California Law
  
• Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.

Related Resources for Marriage Age Requirements Laws:

• Getting Married: Checklist
  
• Marriage License Information by State
• How to Determine if a Prenuptial Agreement is Right for You
• Are You Ready for Marriage?

Questions About Marriage Age Requirements? An Attorney Can Help

No matter the age of the participants, marriage is a serious commitment that should be entered into with considerable thought. However, there are special considerations when minors want to marry. If you are a minor with plans to marry, you will want to learn more about California laws. Get in touch with a California family law attorney now to learn more.