Michigan lawmakers consider a ban on child marriage

Will Michigan outlaw the marriage of minors in 2023?

 

 

Lawmakers in the Michigan House of Representatives are considering legislation that would make it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to marry in the state, without exception. 

 

• Read the full text of the bill here: HB4293

 

Currently, children who are 16 or 17 years old can marry in Michigan with the consent of one parent or guardian (§ 551.103). Children under the age of 16 are generally unable to marry, but can sometimes marry with special permission from a probate judge (§ 551.51).  

 

• See all Michigan Marriage laws here. 

 

If passed into law, House Bill 4293 (and its supporting bills, HB4295; HB4296; HB4297) would eliminate the exceptions for children 17 and under, and require that all individuals be at least 18 years old to enter into a marriage contract.

 

This legislation was introduced by Representative Kara Hope in March, and is being discussed by a House panel this week.

 

Similar bills have been introduced in several other states this year, reflecting an increase in concern over the potential harms of underage marriage. Some states have chosen to fully the ban the marriage of minors, including  New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Others have raised the age requirement to marry, or increased protections for minors who marry, including Maryland, Wyoming, and West Virginia. 
 
How common is child marriage? An advocacy group called Unchained At Last estimates that nearly 300,000 children were legally married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2018, and that “Most were girls wed to adult men an average of four years older." According to an article published in Bridge Michigan, “Between 2000 and 2021, over 5,400 children – some as young at 14-years-old – have been married in Michigan.”

 

 

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Stay up to date on marriage laws in your state

 

AMM works hard to keep our ministers informed of important changes to the marriage laws in their states and around the country, to ensure that they have the information they need to officiate weddings and serve their communities well. 

 

To stay informed on what’s new in your state, visit the AMM News Page on the blog and subscribe to AMM’s Monthly Newsletter: 

 

 

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• Subscribe to AMM’s Monthly Newsletter

 

 

 

 

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Officiate Weddings in Michigan!

 

Read How to Become a Wedding Officiant in Michigan

 

Conviértete en un Oficiante de Bodas en Michigan

 

Friends and family members can officiate a wedding in Michigan if they’ve been ordained. Online ordination is free and easy with American Marriage Ministries. 

 

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Read Next: 

 

 

How to Get Married in Michigan

Planning a wedding in the Wolverine State
 

A step-by-step guide to help you plan a wedding in Michigan - from how to find an officiant and choose a wedding venue, to how to apply for, complete, and return your Michigan marriage license.

 

• Read the full article here. 

 

 

 

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