Legal age to get married??

[KimRaye]

This question came up today and, I was shocked to learn that a woman had to be 18 and a man, ???. This was when my parents married 40 years ago. They both needed parental consent since Mom was 17 and Dad was 18.

Has anything changed with this in 40 years??

Thanks!

 

[Beauty]

We were both 18 when we got married and both our parents had to sign I think.

 

[julie_yet]

[color=0066ff]I thought you could get married at 18 without your parents consent.[/color]

 

[Big Dude]

Well, I already told my 11 year old daughter that she had to be 31 to legally be married and by gosh I'm not going back on that one!!!! I just met her "boyfriend" the other day and explained to him that he was not her boyfriend and that I was an 11 year old boy once and I know what 11 year old boys think! I think he got the "hint" from the BIG DUDE!!!!

Adam aka Big Dude

 

[Dan Murphy]

In IL, over 18, no parental signature needed.

http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/index.shtml

 

[TennVolTony]

Get this...A few years ago we celebrated my aunt and uncles 50th wedding anniversary! Pretty cool huh?? WELL.....On the same day, it was my aunts 63 rd BIRTHDAY!!

 

[KimRaye]

Beauty, that's what confuses me. You were 18 and needed someone to consent? How many years ago?

Julie, I thought that too, at least now.

Adam, I completely understand!! LOL

Dan, I have to check your link yet. But you did post OVER 18, which would mean 19 is legal, right? (Thanks, I'm gonna check the link)

Tony, that's not just funny, it's Fantastic! Congrats to your Aunt & Uncle!!

Thanks everyone!

 

[nativetxn]

In 1999 (I think) Utah passed a law <b>raising</b> the minimum age for marriage <i>from</i> 14 to <b>16</b>. That amazes me.

The age for marriage in MS without parental consent is 15 years for women and 17 years for men.

Beauty in which state did you marry?

 

[WillyJ]

LOL Adam and Tony!!


Kim, I'm pretty sure there is no national standard as far as what age a person can get married at and whether or not they need parental consent; but rather each state is allowed to set there own limits. .

 

[Nutsy]

Interesting thread Kim.

I can't comment as I don't live in America, but I could comment if you were talking about Down Under

 

[KimRaye]

Kath, that amazes me as well!!

Thanks Willy. I am kinda surprised about that info tho. Kinda scary actually.

I just checked Dan's link and, for Cook County, IL ALONE, that info SCARES me! There are some minor discrepancies with the 16 or 17yo info and the separate OVER 18yo info but, I take it to mean that any 18yo can marry w/o parental consent. My bigger question would be WHEN did the age for males change and, from what age? My Dad was 18 and needed consent 40 years ago. In today's 'terms' DS could get married w/o consent at 18. (I asked my Mom about the voting/DRAFTING/alcohol/marriage age back then but, she didn't know except that Dad needed consent to marry and couldn't buy alcohol...but, he could get drafted)

What bothered me most is that court-issued divorce papers are supposedly required when a divorced person remarries! Trust me, DH & I did not have to do that (10 years ago). DH doesn't HAVE his divorce papers at all!! And the blood test (I'm sidetracking my own thread here)... DH & I didn't get one before we married.

So, what WAS the legal age for a MALE, 40 years ago, to get married?? For that matter, 30 years ago? (That's what brought this up)

Thanks

 

[WillyJ]

Well Kim, 40 years ago in which state? LOL!! It may have been one set of rules in Illinois, and a completely different set of rules in say Iowa. . . might be something you could track down at local library. .

As I recall, the voting age was 21 up until before the 1972 election, when it was lowered to 18. . . and I think the draft age has been 18 for quite a while, but I'm not sure on that.

I do know for a fact up until the early 1980's, there was no set national age limit on alcohol; in some states you could drink at 18, some at 19, and some you had to be 21.

And actually, there really isn't a formal, national age limit even now- technically, a state could drop the drinking age to 18 any time they wanted to. . . but, there's a good reason they don't.

Back in the early '80s when the the Federal government decided that there should be a uniform drinking age limit of 21, I remember Louisiana said they were keeping thier's at 18, and the Federal government didn't have the constituional powers to make them comply.

But. . . what the government did have the power to do was cut off all federal highway funding to any state that didn't comply, and Louisiana decided that maybe upping the legal drinking age to 21 wasn't such a bad idea after all. .

 

[olena]

I just read Georgia's. You have to be 18, unless the bride is pregnant. If that's the case, parental permission isn't required. They will notify the parents that a marriage license has been applied for, but that's it.

 

[KimRaye]

Thanks Willy! I didn't know most of that at all!! Very interesting.

I was and am speaking of Illinois, regarding marriage tho. Now, and 30 and 40 years ago. It would appear from the stories I've been told, that things were and are different today and then.

I know I've heard stories about different alcohol age limits between WI & IL from my childhood but, I guess most states are 21 now.

And, as a senior in high school (graduated in '80), I remember being one of the earlier classes having voter registration in the lunchroom. (My DBro had selective service waiting for him as well)

I'm really wondering about minimum age requirements for getting married, both then and now. I know I'm asking for specifics, location and all but, I wanted a general idea.

Thanks!

 

[KimRaye]

Originally posted by olena
I just read Georgia's. You have to be 18, unless the bride is pregnant. If that's the case, parental permission isn't required. They will notify the parents that a marriage license has been applied for, but that's it.

That's very interesting Heather. What can the parents do with that 'snail mail' warning? Not asking you, just wondering. And, how young can they get married if 'bride' is pregnant?? Just wondering again.

I don't expect you folks to answer from personal experience, I'm just REALLY curious about this and, I appreciate ALL the interesting answers.

Thanks

 

[olena]

Here's what it said, Kim. I think the minimum age might be 16.

Under 18: If you are 16 or 17 years old, you may apply if accompanied by both parents who have given written consent. If the bride is pregnant, no parental consent is required if you submit a statement from a licensed physician certifying that the bride is pregnant. If underage applicants already have a child, they should present a certified copy of the birth certificate for the child at the time of application. If parental consent is not required, the court will notify parents or guardians that you have been issued a marriage license. There is an additional fee of $1.00 per letter.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

Originally posted by nativetxn
The age for marriage in MS without parental consent is 15 years for women and 17 years for men.

15?! Geez. I'm pretty sure here it's 17.

In all honesty I think it should always be flexible given the society. I'd say that the average 18 year old 30 years ago is probably closer to a 25yo these days in terms of maturity.

 

[Zurg]

in which state?

I think willy clearly pointed out the corollary between the states of infatuation and intoxication.

Not sure what voting has to do with it unluees it is some Elizabeth Dole thing. In that case I think latter state noted above would have to preceed the former.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Interesting link, Dan!

In RI, it's 18 without parental consent. These other state laws with lower ages were making me nervous!

Found this interesting tidbit about RI tho:

Cousin Marriage: A man can not marry his aunt, but can marry his cousin. A woman, by the way, may marry her uncle providing she is Jewish.

 

[olena]

OY!