Facts you should know about legal marriage in New York State

On June 8, 2017, the New York State Assembly passed a bill outlawing child marriage, and raising the legal age for marriage to 17. But what is the legal age to wed in New York? Like the majority of U.S. states, the legal age to marry in NY is 18. But since 1929, an exception to this rule allows children as young as 14 years-old to legally wed, as long as they have parental and judicial consent. Other states, such as North Carolina and Alaska, also have this exception. And 27 states around the country have no minimum age in state statutes, meaning that, with court approval, any children can wed. Health department data shows that between 2000 and 2010, around 3850 minors were married in New York State. A vast majority of these minors, 84%, were young girls married to adult men.

By Staff Reporter
June 13, 2017 17:00 +08

On June 8, 2017, the New York State Assembly passed a bill outlawing child marriage, and raising the legal age for marriage to 17. But what is the legal age to wed in New York? Like the majority of U.S. states, the legal age to marry in NY is 18. But since 1929, an exception to this rule allows children as young as 14 years-old to legally wed, as long as they have parental and judicial consent. Other states, such as North Carolina and Alaska, also have this exception. And 27 states around the country have no minimum age in state statutes, meaning that, with court approval, any children can wed. Health department data shows that between 2000 and 2010, around 3850 minors were married in New York State. A vast majority of these minors, 84%, were young girls married to adult men.