Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016
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Marriage is restricted to those over a certain age in most states, while all state marriage age laws require minors (often as young as 15 or 16) to obtain their parent's permission first. Marriage is a serious, life-long commitment, which is why the state has an interest in ensuring that the two parties have the maturity for marriage. Most states have enough flexibility in the law to allow those younger than the statutory minimum to get married under certain conditions, such as an unplanned pregnancy with a committed partner. However, some states do not allow people under a certain age to marry for any reason.
North Dakota's age restrictions on marriage are quite simple: no one under the age of 16 may get married in the state for any reason, while those younger than 18 (and older than 16) must obtain parental consent.
Marriage licenses may be obtained at your local county courthouse for a fee of $65 (current as of 2015). If you were previously married, you will have to provide a certified copy of your divorce decree with your marriage license application. If you are a minor, you will need to provide a notarized statement from a parent or legal guardian (see the Marriage Information section of Cass County's official Web site to learn more).
Additional information about North Dakota's marriage age laws is listed below. See FindLaw's Getting Married section for related articles and resources.
| Code Section | 14-03-02 |
| Minimum Legal Age With Parental Consent | Male: 16; Female: 16 |
| Minimum Legal Age Without Parental Consent | Male: 18; Female: 18 |
| Comments | No license issued to persons under 16 for any reason. |
Note: State laws are subject to change at any time in a number of ways, usually through the enactment of new legislation or the decisions of higher courts. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of these pages, you also may want to contact a North Dakota family law attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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