AMERICAN WEDDINGS BLOG

Learn about the recent changes to West Virginia's minimum age requirements for marriage, effective June 2023. Children under the age of 16 years old are no longer allowed to marry in WV, without exceptions. Underage marriages for children between the ages of 16 and 18 are allowed if their partner is no more than 4 years older and certain other conditions are met.

A bill to ban underage marriages in West Virginia was thought to have died in committee following a 9-8 vote to reject on Wednesday, but was revived for a second reading in the Senate on Thursday night. Learn about HB3018, which would raise the minimum age to marry in WV to 18 years old, with no exceptions for minors. (Del. Kayla Young; Sen. Charles Trump; House Bill 3018 ; 2023)

Vermont House Bill 148, titled 'An Act to Ban Child Marriage,' was passed by House on March 2nd and now heads to the Senate. The bill, which would raise the legal minimum age to marry in the state to 18 years old, is sponsored by Representatives Carol Ode, Mollie Burke, Tiffany Bluemle, and Sara Coffey. (VT H.148 2023)

The minimum age to marry in Wyoming is now 18 years old, with some legal exceptions for 16 and 17 year olds. Gov. Mark Gordon signed House Bill 7 (HB0007) into law last week, after multiple attempts by lawmakers over the years to raise the legal age of consent in the state. The new law is effective immediately.

Pre-filed legislation in Wyoming could raise the legal age of consent to marry to 18 years old in 2023, with exceptions for 16 and 17 year olds with permission from a guardian and judge. Read about the proposed change to restrict child marriage, and other states that have recently limited underage marriages. (Wyoming House Bill 7)

A look at important proposed and recently passed marriage legislation in states across the U.S., including bills to end child marriage, codify same-sex and interracial marriages (Respect for Marriage Act), issue free marriage licenses, and more. (CA ACR 197, DE SB 345 , IL SB 3418 , MA HB 4701 / 5050 / 1709 / SB 937 , MI HR 329 , SB 1115 , NH HB 1130 , NJ SB 2861 / AB 4400 / 4137 , NY SB 739 / AB 4137 , OH HB 203 / SB 131 , PA HB 2580 , RI H7402 , US HB 8404 / SB 4556 / HB 8396 )

Legislators in Massachusetts consider a law to end the marriage of minors, after the House of Reps voted to ban child marriage in the Commonwealth as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 House Budget debate. (House Bill 1709 / H1709 ; House Bill 4701 / H4701; Amendment S.4 ; S937)

Learn about proposed changes to Alaska marriage laws, including raising the minimum age to marry to 16, placing additional limits on child marriage, and reducing the witness requirement to one witness when signing a marriage license after a wedding ceremony. (House Bill 62 / HB 62)

Lawmakers in Maryland banned marriage for individuals under the age of 17 this week, making the state the latest to reconsider child marriage and raise the minimum age to marry.