Child marriage is a harmful practice and violation of child rights that affects all communities in the U.S. There is no federal law banning child marriage, and it is governed by the states under the federalist legal structure. In the U.S., child marriage is legal in 44 states with some exceptions, but UNICEF USA and partners are working to change that. A 2018 study analyzing marriage license data from 41 states found that at over 200,000 minors, 87% girls and boys married before the age of 16. The push to ban child marriage was initially opposed by senior clergy, who argued that a woman reaches adulthood at puberty.
In 2021, New York became the sixth state to successfully ban child marriage, prohibiting marriage for all persons under the age of eighteen without exception and requiring all marriage applicants to provide official proof of their age. Delaware has made history as the first state in the nation to ban child marriage under all circumstances. As of April 2024, 12 states have banned underage marriages, with no exceptions. Rhode Island and New York passed bans in 2021, Massachusetts banned the practice in 2022, Vermont passed a ban in April, and Connecticut and Virginia are the 12th US state to ban child marriage.
Child marriage can easily be forced marriage, as the age of majority, when children become legal adults and get the rights of adulthood, is 18 or higher in every state. The U.S. must first end child marriage at home before it can curb this harmful practice abroad.
📹 Child Marriage Hasn’t Been Fully Banned In Any U.S. State (HBO)
Between 2000 and 2010, an estimated 248000 children were married in the United States, with the majority of cases involving a …
What is the youngest age to get married in the US?
Two states have a minimum marriage age of 15 years old, Hawaii and Missouri, and two states have the lowest minimum marriage age, which is 14 years old. Those states are Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Can 10 year olds get married in California?
The minimum age to marry varies from state to state Seven states — including California — have no minimum age at all.
UNICEF USA is working with partners including Unchained at Last to end child marriage in the United States. Eleven U.S. states have already passed legislation banning marriage before the age of 18, with no exceptions. California could be next.
Join UNICEF USAin calling on your elected officials to end child marriage with zero exceptions.
Child marriage is a child rights violation. Janette was only 14, a southern California ninth grader, when she was introduced to the 21-year-old man who would soon become her husband. Her mother would have him come over and sleep on the couch. I thought, Why is he here? Next thing I know, Im at his place, said Janette, now a 56-year-old activist working to end child marriage. I know the truth now. She sold me.
Is it illegal to get married at 14 in the US?
5 states set an age floor below age 16: Alaska; Hawaii; Kansas; Maryland; and North Carolina. not set any age floor by statute, though some (e.g., Massachusetts) may suggest an age floor through case law.
Can a 10 year old get married in the US?
What is child marriage, and is it really happening in the United States?. Child marriage occurs when one or both of the parties to the marriage are below the age of 18. Child marriage is currently legal in 38 states (only Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont have set the minimum age at 18 and eliminated all exceptions), and 20 U.S. states do not require any minimum age for marriage, with a parental or judicial waiver.Nearly 300,00 children were married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2018. The vast majority were girls wed to adult men, many much older.
What is the “statutory rape exception”?. Statutory rape is when one of the parties to sexual activity is below the age of consent. It does not have to be forcible, because a minor is not legally able to consent. In most states, child marriage is considered as a valid defense to statutory rape. The marital defense to statutory rape also used to be permitted under federal law in 18 U.S.C. Section 2243(c).
While 18 U.S.C. 2243 was amended by the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 to eliminate this statutory rape defense, a similar defense still exists in the United States Military Code under 10 U.S.C. Section 920b.
Can I marry my girlfriend at 15?
Parental consent is required in most states for anyone under the age of 18 to get married, and there is no minimum age requirement.
Does Texas allow child marriage?
In Texas, people under age 18 usually cannot legally marry. Texas law used to allow people under the age of 18 to get married. Currently, only legally emancipated minors may marry.
In Texas, people under age 18 usually cannot legally marry.
Texas law used to allow people under the age of 18 to get married. Currently, only legallyemancipated minors may marry. Learn more here.
A person under age 18 years cannot marry unless they have been emancipated, a process also known as having the disabilities of minority removed for general purposes.
Can a 5 year old get married in California?
California law requires a person under 18 years of age to obtain consent from at least one parent or guardian and permission in the form of a court order. Granting permission for a minor to marry or establish a domestic partnership is entirely within the discretion of the court.
1. Parental consent: Mother, father, or legal guardian may file a Consent for Minor to Marry or Establish a Domestic Partnership (JC Form #FL-912) or similar pleading at the Juvenile Court (2851 Meadow Lark Drive).
2. Unless the minor is 17 years of age and has a high school diploma or a high school equivalency (GED) certificate, each party must participate in a Family Court Services interview and interview with the judicial officer.
At the time the parties file the Application for Permission to Marry or Establish a Domestic Partnership with the juvenile court, each party must separately complete and submit a Family Court Services (FCS) Questionnaire Regarding Application For Permission For Minor(s) To Marry Or Establish Domestic Partnership (SDSC Form FCS-067) and must provide copies of the minor’s birth certificate (and high school diploma or GED certificate, if applicable). When the Questionnaires are submitted, an appointment for an interview with Family Court Services will be scheduled for the parties and for the consenting parent(s) or guardian(s) of minor(s) at the address indicated below. It is mandatory for the parties to meet separately with a Family Court Services Counselor. After the interviews, Family Court Services will provide a report to the juvenile court pursuant to Family Code sections 297.1 and 304.
Which country has the youngest marriage age?
Sudan used to have a unique policy when it came to the legal marriage age. Muslim children were allowed to be legally married as soon as they hit puberty. Non-Muslim children, however, could only marry after they hit 13 if they were a girl, or 15 if they were a boy. The Sudanese government changed the legal age for marriage to 18 in late 2020, outlawing child marriage.
Which country has the lowest legal marriage age?
Similarly, in Equatorial Guinea and São Tomé and Principe, children can marry at the age of 14 with their parents consent but have to wait until they are 18 otherwise.
There are a considerably high number of countries that allow children to marry at the age of 15 and 16 as long as their legal guardians sign off on it. However, the majority of nations across the globe have 18 as their minimum barrier for marriage without parental consent.
There are also a handful of countries that have set their minimum legal marriage age higher than 18. Below are the countries that require individuals to be 21 years old before they can get legally married.
- Botswana
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Eswatini
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Ivory Coast
- Lesotho
- Namibia
- Niger
- Rwanda
- Zambia
Can a 14 year old marry in Texas?
Age requirements: You must be 18 years of age to marry on your own. If youre between 16 and 18, you must have parental consent or a court order granting permission to marry. If youre younger than 16, you must have a court order granting permission to marry.
Can a 14 year old get married in Texas?
Age requirements: You must be 18 years of age to marry on your own. If youre between 16 and 18, you must have parental consent or a court order granting permission to marry. If youre younger than 16, you must have a court order granting permission to marry.
📹 Why are child brides still legal in the United States?
America publicly advocates for the abolition of child marriage around the world, yet at home, there’s “a long history of child …
When a minor gets married, laws get really twisted. In many states, even though children can marry, they actually cannot initiate a divorce as they are too young to initiate a lawsuit. She can’t enter into a contract or live on her own. Can’t seek medical care without a guardian, or often even be employed. And if she tries to leave she may even be considered a runaway. A domestic violence shelter who helps may be accused of harboring a minor. It is as if the husband has “custody.” Again, this may vary from state to state.
C’mon America you’re supposed to be better than this. Screw the “states rights” argument, it should be banned across all states, not when each states decides if it feels like voting for or against child marriage laws. It shouldn’t be up for debate. Shame on those parents as well, they’ve failed their children.
If you actually look at the demographics of where these child marriages occur they overwhelmingly happen in rural, poor communities. Additionally for those of you blaming Islam the overwhelming majority not only live in urban environments but tend to follow the most liberal interpretation of Islam. I’m not saying that the religion itself is absolved but when discussing US domestic law you have to look at the data before you can just blame an entire group wholesale.
I was forced to marry my exhusband at 16 he was 23. all my mother was worried about was what would the neighbors think because I was pregnant. He forced himself on me after I told him no. 7 years of abuse 10 years to end it and he can collect off of me. Because he doesn’t work he collects of off welfare. Its not right. He owes me child support and had nothing to do with his sons.
This is one of those topics where we must be very careful about the wording of the laws/clauses being passed. I agree, there needs to be protections against forced child marriages… but if we are to say Minors do not have the power to consent to Marriage, I could also see the political agenda in arguing to revoke Minors‘ power to consent to abortion without parental consent… There’s a few liberties in minors having the power of consent especially the kids who grow up in the foster care / adoption system, or escaping abusive families… Again, we have to be careful about how these laws being passed are worded, just as we must be careful about who we elect into office who will enforce these laws…
Unfortunately Vice didn’t show what part the parents or family played in the marriage of the 2 women featured. Did the families approve? Did they coerce the women in any way to get married? Did the families benefit in any way in the marriages? These are important questions and Vice didn’t even both to ask or they asked and didn’t like and didn’t want to reveal the answers.
I live in broward all my life yes this is true i fell in this problem…but i left the person cause i didnt feel the same way about him..i liked him but i didnt know what to do He purposed but i got scared i was 12. I didnt know anything about love i knew about loyalty. He said it would be legal…but i didnt believe him So me being next to him only wasnt my problem…i didnt know how to love so he loved me but i didnt know how to love back even though my loyalty was there. He scared me off om the same night he purposed and i left two days later because of that n he was 35 at the time. But since i didnt have any parents it was nothing no one could do not even childnet of broward county. (Fostercare) so i had to leavee before i got married
“‘With all the talks going on with this forum. .. the only way to fix the problem is for people who read this and are in successful positions of business and establishments who agree this should not happen. .. is to show your passion and and be aware to use your powers of engagement and apply for a position in the government sector of presidency. .. More people should rise and apply if you feel you have the back up and power to reach at this level of the next step to make a change. .. Talking doesn’t do anything anymore apart from strategic communications : WHAT ARE WE / YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT. I’ll say it again. .. if you live in the areas of where’s this is happening …. please please apply for government positions and try to be elected for high powered positions to help make a change. .. Vs the people of the area need to create marches and all of the USA to create havoc just like BLACK LIVES MATTER protest in order for the state to listen and to be fully aware “. AWARENESS 🎈 instagram ARTISANAL ARTISTIC ARTIST
The requirement of limiting the age to those like me that were emancipated minors or could by both judicial review and family study for someone to marry. I fully understand protection against primitive religious beliefs and other cultural norms must be enacted. No rights of religion or culture are absolute. We do have rights to limit and review the actions of minors.
If the issue for Planned Parenthood involves rights for children who might be pregnant or something, then they should try to make laws or policies that grant children more rights in those regards without needing to be married to get the benefits. There is no reason they should want to keep child marriage just for the health policy benefits of being married. Just make it easier for kids to get the benefits despite not being married instead
I think sometimes we need a whole revamp of our laws this is 2018 and we live in a new place with new problems and solutions possible. For a small example. Marijuana is it legal is it not legal is ok do we just ignore the laws or do we keep ticketing and arresting people for having it in some places and in some places not. That’s just one thing that need to be revised
It is truly ridiculous. In the United States a child cannot consent to sex but can get married? Or not have enough responsibility to consume alcohol or tobacco yet can assume the responsibilities of marriage? I am getting married in May and am 21 years old, I know that it is a young age to get married but looking back to even the age of 18 I know 10000% that I was not ready get married then, crazy that any person can allow children to get married. It should not only be stopped on a statewide level but there must be some federal action on this too.
I oppose children getting married. Even more tragic is when a teen gets pregnant and brings a child into the world without a committed father to help. Do we deny the young couple with a baby on the way the right to marry? Yes, they are to young to marry but worse they are far too young to be parents but a baby is on the way. What do we do in that giant mess? Do we allow them to take a shot at being a family or not?
Very interesting arguments. Why are young women forced into marriage in the first place, irrespective of age? That is what has to be looked at first before being able to make a sensible and practical legislative solution. You are never going to stop teenage parenthood. Incentives or financial advantages in the form of Bonuses might help.
700 million women alive today were married as children.Child brides can be found in every region in the world, from the Middle East to Latin America, South Asia to Europe. Many factors interact to place a girl at risk of marriage, including poverty, the perception that marriage will provide ‘protection’, family honour, social norms, customary or religious laws that condone the practice. This is an issue in the United States yes but a law forbidding it will do little to prevent it, statistically speaking this is an issue for cultures outside of the United States its origin is not typical of American households.
I am in absolutely no way in support of child marriage but I do think that the age should be the age of consent not the age of majority. There are many people who are forced by their parents or society or partners to get married after becoming pregnant at 16-17 buuuuuut there are also many people who want to handle their pregnancy that way out of their own free will. I think that it should be a matter that a 16-17 year should be able to get married if they agree to some sort of interview prior or something like that. A good friend of mine got married at 17 after getting knocked up by her 18 year old high school sweetheart. She’s 25 now and they are still together and absolute soulmates. They are so good together, but the reality is that if they couldn’t get married they wouldn’t have been able to live together (his family is religious) and she wouldn’t have her daughter now, they probably would have broken up. People marrying children is perverse and the whole concept is protecting perpetrators. I’m not arguing that. I just think there’d be less pushback esp. from planned parenthood if the age was 16 not 18. IMO 16 is just more reasonable.
What issues ‘Planned parenthood’ brings up in connection with child marriage law is potentially a real problem. If a grown adult shows up to marry a child the institution which is supposed to officiate that “union” should just call the police – isn’t pedophilia illegal in so great United States of America, which is so great there is no better place… Furthermore, maybe a child should be ‘allowed’ to marry but safe-guards such as counselling and other. Why instead of forbidding children to marry, thus de facto restricting their rights, the law isn’t “adults are forbidden to marry children” – they are the offenders, why not directly address them, put them in the proverbial and literal spotlight. They who marry children know it’s wrong and they do it anyway – the whole discussion “well it’s not illegal” is just ludicrous.
There are cases when young people should be allowed to merry. If they can have children and are responsible enough and they are both in the same age group and count with the permission of the parents. Many young couples had successfully married as early as 14. It’s not desirable nor ideal; but in cases, it has been the best possible path.
oh shit I live in nor Cal as well I cannot stop perusal these articles seriously! didn’t even know it existed because it seems so obviously illegal but apparently it isn’t. wtf so I don’t get it it’s okay to sleep with an underage if they are legally married? why would they want to make or keep that legal?
What culture are those people from, seems to me thats not anerican culture that is foreign cultre coming into america, it seems withis story it is targed toward islam, also the concent of the child how does that work, can a woman be legaly signed away in marrage without there permission, this needs focused on the decision of the child and if the child gave concent and if its even legal if the child gives no concent
America 2015: “Love is Love” America 2018: “Ok… everyone except these people can get married” America 2015 would say to this new law that it is considered a moral argument and should be thrown out because morality cannot be included in law making. Does anyone else see the hypocrisy? No? Just me. ok. For the record i do not agree with any of the above points. Forced marriage and pedophilia are all absolute treacherous acts in my book but I for some reason cannot find a logical string of thought for what we want marriage to be in this country. I absolutely loathe Planned Parenthood but they seem to be the only ones sticking to their guns (very sad but very revealing as to their intentions).
So no marrage under 18. Hell then under that law my grandmother and grandfather would not have been married. It was already difficult with him being Indian and her a white girl.O she way 14 he was 16 they where married in 1919 and stayed married till he died of cancer in 1965. She never married after that always said no man could ever take his place. 11 Is way to early but 16 not sure. Look back in your family you might be surprised how young some of your forefathers and formothers got hitched.
18 years of age for marriage is not the standard of the world. Each culture, country and religion are different and they should be respected as such. They always talk about all the worst case scenarios, many people around the world marry young and have great lives and are happy deal with it. STOP THE PROPAGANDA!!!!!
Im very disappointed in vice for this very close minded content, where are they from, what culture were the guys that married them, how does it work legaly about concent, what would the pice or authority do its the islams its what they do because its in there book, the islams will be hollering racism now