AMERICAN WEDDINGS BLOG

Learn about legislation to outlaw child marriage in Washington State. The members of the WA House of Representatives voted unanimously in favor of HB 1455 this month, which would eliminate an exception that allows 17 year old minors to marry in the state. The bill now heads to the Senate. (2023 / 2024 WA House Bill 1455; Representative Monica Stonier [D])

Learn about potential changes to marriage laws in your state in 2024, including proposed legislation in New York, New Jersey, Nebraska, Missouri, Virginia, Utah, West Virginia, California, and other states, and how these changes could affect AMM Ministers and other officiants who officiate weddings there.

You must be 18 years old to get married in Michigan. This week, Gov Whitmer signed legislation to ban the marriage of minors in the state, without exception. Michigan becomes the 10th state to fully ban child marriage. Learn more about the updated law, and how this change may impact AMM Ministers and other wedding officiants in the state. ( HB4294 , HB4295 , HB4296 , SB0212 , SB0209 2023 / Act 121, Act 122, Act 123)

Learn how much it costs to become an ordained minister online in Connecticut, whether you’ll pay more for minister registration to officiate a wedding, and how the cost of popular online ordination services compare, including free ordination through American Marriage Ministries.

It's official: The legal age to marry in Connecticut is 18 years old, effective July 1, 2023. There are no exceptions for minors, making CT the 9th state to fully ban child marriage. The legislation was signed into law by acting Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz on June 23, 2023. Read the amended statute and what AMM Ministers who wish to officiate weddings in Connecticut need to know to solemnize marriage there.

Lawmakers in Maine passed legislation this week to prohibit the marriage of minors and raise the legal age to apply for a marriage license to 18 years old. The bill now heads to Gov. Mills for approval. Learn how LD 443 will amend the current law by removing provisions that allow 16 and 17 year olds to marry with parental permission, and if the change will impact American Marriage Ministries Ministers in Maine.

Learn about current efforts in Michigan to raise the minimum age requirement to marry: House Bill 4293 would eliminate exceptions for the marriage of minors, banning all child marriages in the state. (MI HB4293 / Rep. Kara Hope)

Lawmakers in the CT House of Representatives voted yes on HB 6569, which would raise the minimum age to marry in the state to 18 years old, and remove current exceptions for minors, including emancipated minors. Learn what's next, and read the proposed changes to the law. (2023 CT HB 6569 / An Act Concerning the Minimum Age to Be Eligible to Marry)

Beginning July 1, 2023, individuals must be at least 18 years old to marry in Vermont, with no exceptions. Gov. Phil Scott signed the 'Act to Ban Child Marriage' into law on April 20, making it illegal for all minors to get married in the state. (VT HB148 2023 ; Rep Carol Ode )