Minimum Marriage Age in the United States
Marriage age laws are a critical companion to age-of-consent statutes. Most states allow marriage at 18 without conditions, but several still permit minor marriage with parental or judicial approval.
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States that have eliminated minor marriage
As of 2026, the following states require both parties to be at least 18: Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Michigan, Washington, Virginia, and a growing list.
Parental and judicial consent
Most other states permit marriage at 16–17 with parental consent, and some allow even younger with court approval. Try our Marriage Age Checker to look up your state.
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