Missouri Lawmakers Consider Raising Marriage Age to 18 in 2025

Will Missouri lawmakers ban child marriage in 2025?

 

Missouri lawmakers have prefiled legislation for the upcoming year that would raise the legal age for marriage to 18 years old. 

 

Currently, children as young as 16 years old can marry in Missouri with parental permission, as long as the person they’re marrying is not older than 21 years old. 

If passed as written, this legislation (SB 66 / 2025) would raise the legal age to marry in Missouri to 18 years old without exceptions. 

 

Specifically, the legislation would repeal sections of the law (RSMO § 451.090) that let minors get married. Those sections would be replaced with new guidelines that say only adults who are at least 18 years old can apply for a marriage license.

This bill is identical to previous legislation considered by senate members, including SB 767 (introduced in 2024). That bill was passed in the state’s Senate last April, but was not passed in the House. 

 

• Read our previous coverage of SB 767 from earlier this year: Banning Child Marriage: Four States Consider Legislation to Raise Legal Age to Marry in 2024

 

SB 66 was prefiled by Sen. Tracy McCreery [D] on December 1st in preparation for next year’s session, which begins January 8th, 2025. 

 

 

Why raise the legal age to marry in Missouri? 

Why is this legislation important? You might be surprised to learn that child marriage is still legal in many U.S. states, although there are usually strict limitations on how and when these underage marriages can happen. For example, children as young as 16 years old can get married in Missouri, but they can’t marry a partner who is older than 21 years old. This age-gap limitation was put in place to prevent greatly unequal partnerships. 

Experts on children’s health have spoken out against child marriage in recent years, explaining that when children get married, they suffer negative consequences like a loss of education, more risk of domestic violence and abuse, and worse mental health than average for their ages. And most underage marriages aren’t two kids getting married – they’re usually a child marrying an older adult. 

 

How many states ban child marriage?

If Missouri passes this law, it would be in good company. Other states that have banned child marriage recently include New Hampshire (where the law goes into effect in 2025); Virginia (July of 2024), Washington State (March of 2024), Michigan (September of 2023), and Connecticut (June of 2023). 

And similar legislation is currently being considered in Washington, DC (DC Council Bill 250955), where it has strong support.

 

Related: Congress Takes a Closer Look at Child Marriage in the US

It’s now illegal for children to marry in 16 states and U.S. territories: New Hampshire, Virginia, Washington, Michigan, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico (where parties must be 21 years old).

Related: How Old Do You Have To Be To Get Married In Each State?

 

 

How would a change in the state’s legal marriage age affect AMM Ministers or wedding officiants there? 

This change would not impact AMM Ministers who officiate weddings in Missouri, or how they officiate weddings there. 

 

• Become a Wedding Officiant in Missouri

 
If passed, the legislation would raise the age requirement to apply for a marriage license, which is issued by a Recorder of Deeds (the Recorder’s Office). This official will ask each applicant for proof of their age and any other necessary documents, ensuring they are old enough to get married.

 

• How to Get Married in Missouri - Planning a Wedding in the Show-Me State

 
Officiants should always check with a couple to ensure they’ve applied for a marriage license before the wedding date.

 

On the day of the wedding, Officiants should ask the couple to present their marriage license before they perform the marriage ceremony. Learn more by clicking the link below. 

 

• What Are My Wedding Day Duties As The Missouri Officiant?

 

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Learn more about child marriage laws & other changing marriage trends in the U.S.

 

• How Common is Child Marriage in California? A Count is Coming
   
• Virginia’s Child Marriage Ban in Effect Soon, Plus Protections for Marriage Rights
   
• Kissing Cousins - The Popularity & Controversy of Cousin Marriage
   
• The Average Age of Marriage in the U.S. Just Went Down for the First Time in Years… Can You Guess Why?
   

 

Is the average age of marriage in the U.S. going up or down? Learn about recent trends that affect how old most men and women are when they get married: Click the article linked above to read the full article.

 

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