Is It Legal in My State?
A 5-step guided walk-through that surfaces close-in-age (Romeo and Juliet) considerations in your state.
Last Updated: · Reviewed by our Editorial Review Team
Before you use this tool
This quiz collects a handful of common variables — state, ages, authority relationship, and consent — and produces an educational summary of the statutory framework that may apply. It does not return a yes/no verdict on whether any specific conduct is lawful.
Even when the summary suggests a close-in-age provision may apply, that is not a green light. Many other factors can change the outcome, and prosecutorial discretion and case-specific facts always matter.
Step 1 — Select your state
Official Source Links
- California Legislature — Official Statutes Directory linking to each state's official statute database.
- Cornell Law School — Legal Information Institute Background on statutory rape and close-in-age provisions.
- RAINN — National Sexual Assault Hotline Free, confidential 24/7 support if you or someone you know is affected.
- U.S. Department of Justice — Sexual Abuse of a Minor Overview of federal 18 U.S.C. § 2243.
State-Law Limitations of This Tool
- Quiz captures only five variables. Real statutes involve many more (force, incapacity, prior offenses, marriage, digital conduct, federal jurisdiction).
- Some states have multiple consent ages, tiered offenses, or special rules for specific age combinations the quiz does not model.
- Authority and consent are simplified to yes/no inputs; real cases turn on detailed fact patterns.
- Does not reflect prosecutorial discretion, plea practices, or recent statutory amendments.
- Always verify with the linked official state statute and a licensed attorney before acting.
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