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Right To Marry – Legal Age of Consent Laws by State

  • Legal Editor

The statutory age at which a person may legally marry without parental approval is called the Age of Consent. Some states refer to this term as the Age of Majority. Historically, the Age of Consent term grew out of state laws in which a female can legally consent to sexual intercourse. Likewise, in many states, a person below the Age of Consent is sometimes referred to as a Minor.

For A Summary Of Marriage and Divorce Laws In Your State

Marriage Deemed Valid In One State Is Binding In Other States

As a general rule, a marriage is considered valid in one state if that marriage occurred in another state in which that state issued a legally binding marriage certificate. There are exceptions to this general rule based on common law, and therefore each state statute relating to the legal Age of Consent must be carefully considered.

Age of Consent by State:

Alabama

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Alaska

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Arizona

The age of consent is eighteen. 

Arkansas

The age of consent is sixteen. 

California

The age of consent is eighteen. 

Colorado

The age of consent is seventeen. 

Connecticut

The age of consent is sixteen.  

Delaware

The age of consent is eighteen. 

Florida

The age of consent is eighteen. 

Georgia

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Hawaii

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Idaho

The age of consent is eighteen. 

Illinois

The age of consent is seventeen. 

Indiana

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Iowa

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Kansas

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Kentucky

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Louisiana

The age of consent is seventeen. 

Maine

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Maryland

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Massachusetts

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Michigan

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Minnesota

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Mississippi

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Missouri

The age of consent is seventeen. 

Montana

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Nebraska

The age of consent is seventeen. 

Nevada

The age of consent is sixteen. 

New Hampshire 

The age of consent is sixteen. 

New Jersey

The age of consent is sixteen. 

New Mexico

The age of consent is seventeen. 

New York

The age of consent is seventeen. 

North Carolina

The age of consent is sixteen. 

North Dakota

The age of consent is eighteen. 

Ohio

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Oklahoma

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Oregon

The age of consent is eighteen. 

Pennsylvania

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Rhode Island

The age of consent is sixteen. 

South Carolina

The age of consent is sixteen. 

South Dakota

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Tennessee

The age of consent is eighteen. 

Texas

The age of consent is seventeen. 

Utah

The age of consent is eighteen. 

Vermont

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Virginia

The age of consent is eighteen.

Washington

The age of consent is sixteen. 

West Virginia

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Wisconsin

The age of consent is eighteen. 

Wyoming

The age of consent is seventeen. 

D.C.

The age of consent is sixteen. 

Puerto Rico

The age of consent is sixteen. 

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