North Carolina to raise the legal marriage age from 14 to 16

Mike Mercury · 08-16-2021, 1:31pm

North Carolina attempts to outlaw child weddings

https://www.foxnews.com/us/north-car...child-weddings

North Carolina is moving to introduce legislation that would raise the legal marriage age from 14 to 16 in an effort to reverse the state’s reputation as a destination for child brides.

The new legislation in the state congress would additionally limit the age difference between a 16-year-old spouse to four years.

Presently, children as young as 14 can get married if they become pregnant and if a judge allows it. Children can get married at 16 with parental permission.

North Carolina is one of 13 states that allow for children under the age of 16 to get married, and nine of those states have no age restriction at all, instead relying on a judge’s ruling, according to Unchained at Last, an organization that advocates for the end of child marriages.

Alaska is the only other state whose law expressly permits marriages as young as 14.

"We will have moved the needle and made North Carolina no longer at the very bottom of the barrel of states," said Drew Reisinger, the register of deeds in Buncombe County.

But, he said, "we’re still going to be putting a lot of children in harm’s way."

Reisinger said Buncombe County is a destination for child marriages, attracting people from nearby states where laws are stricter.

He said that two-thirds of the marriage applications in Buncombe County last year that involved at least one minor were from people who lived outside the state, including a 49-year-old man and 17-year-old girl who recently came from Kentucky seeking a license.

"North Carolina is one of the friendliest states in the South to give them safe haven," he said.

North Carolina lawmakers described the child marriage law as a "generational divide" they hoped to address with this new bill.

"It’s a generational divide," said Sen. Vickie Sawyer, a Davidson County Republican. "It was older members — both Democrat and Republicans — that had those personal stories of family members who had been married and it turned out OK."

Sawyer had originally sponsored a bill to raise the law to 18, but state lawmakers compromised on 16 in May.

North Carolina lawmakers need one more Senate vote before the bill will likely be signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper.

Anjdog2003 · 08-16-2021, 1:39pm

Let me guess, the majority of the states that allow marriages that young are in the south.

Mike Mercury · 08-16-2021, 1:54pm

Marriage Age By State 2021

State With Parental Consent

Massachusetts 12
New Hampshire 13
Hawaii 15
Missouri 15

West Virginia; the age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person under sixteen can marry with parental consent and judicial approval.

Kansas; the age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. With judicial approval, a person can marry at age fifteen.

Olustee bus · 08-16-2021, 2:27pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

Marriage Age By State 2021

State With Parental Consent

Massachusetts 12
New Hampshire 13
Hawaii 15
Missouri 15

West Virginia; the age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. A person under sixteen can marry with parental consent and judicial approval.

Kansas; the age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen. With judicial approval, a person can marry at age fifteen.

Ha

I bet you thought alabama would be the youngest

Grey Ghost · 08-16-2021, 2:29pm

My ancestor left Buncombe County, NC. in 1800. He seriously told someone it was getting too crowded there. Headed to the N.GA. mountains.

Anjdog2003 · 08-16-2021, 2:30pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olustee bus

Ha

I bet you thought alabama would be the youngest

Alabama can't be on the bottom of everything.

Rob · 08-16-2021, 2:36pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anjdog2003

Alabama can't be on the bottom of everything.

That would be California

Mike Mercury · 08-16-2021, 3:06pm

Quote:

Alabama; the age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, a person can marry at sixteen.

4 states have adopted "no minors" laws. You have to be 18; no exceptions.

Delaware: the age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married.

Minnesota: the age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married.

New Jersey: the age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married.

Pennsylvania: the age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot legally marry.

Mike Mercury · 08-16-2021, 3:07pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olustee bus

Ha

I bet you thought Alabama would be the youngest

I guess I need to change my travel plans...

Rodnok1 · 08-16-2021, 3:13pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

I guess I need to change my travel plans...

Don't think it applies if it's your cousin...

so you're good...

04 commemorative · 08-16-2021, 4:21pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

4 states have adopted "no minors" laws. You have to be 18; no exceptions.

Delaware: the age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married.

Minnesota: the age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married.

New Jersey: the age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married.

Pennsylvania: the age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot legally marry.

sister in law got married in NJ at 16

Mike Mercury · 08-16-2021, 5:28pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04 commemorative

sister in law got married in NJ at 16

those "18 no exceptions" state laws are relatively new.

Bill · 08-16-2021, 6:20pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

4 states have adopted "no minors" laws. You have to be 18; no exceptions.

Delaware: the age of consent is eighteen, EXCEPT FOR THE BIDEN FAMILY. Minors cannot get married.

Minnesota: the age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married.

New Jersey: the age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot get married.

Pennsylvania: the age of consent is eighteen. Minors cannot legally marry.

Fixed.

8Up · 08-17-2021, 1:04pm

I was in the Marines with a guy whos wife was 16. Yes they were from Alabama and they were both pretty dumb. This was about 1989.

Anjdog2003 · 08-17-2021, 1:09pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8Up

I was in the Marines with a guy whos wife was 16. Yes they were from Alabama and they were both pretty dumb. This was about 1989.

Strike one a Jarhead

Strike two from Alabama

Strike three a Jarhead

Hardluck · 08-17-2021, 1:11pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

That would be California

Sidewalk chitters!

DJ_Critterus · 08-17-2021, 1:57pm

ICNLT.

Imagine moving there and then marrying one of the locals just to have the kids grow up asking questions like, "Daddy, how comes botha yer eyes point straight and why don't you tawwlllk like us?"

Olustee bus · 08-17-2021, 2:09pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8Up

I was in the Marines with a guy whos wife was 16. Yes they were from Alabama and they were both pretty dumb. This was about 1989.

The Marines you say? um huh.

DJ_Critterus · 08-17-2021, 2:21pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8Up

I was in the Marines with a guy whos wife was 16. Yes they were from Alabama and they were both pretty dumb. This was about 1989.

Y'all must have been eating the lead based crayons back then and not the safe stuff they issue now

VITE1 · 08-17-2021, 3:02pm

Oh damn. I guess my GF and I have to push out the wedding a few more years.

08-17-2021, 1:57pm	#17
DJ_Critterus Explosive Salami Stall Owner #1120.2520 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Not Ceasing & Desisting on the leeward side of Anger Island Posts: 52,382 Thanks: 21,761 Thanked 27,967 Times in 11,823 Posts Gameroom Barn Bucks: $9018209	ICNLT. Imagine moving there and then marrying one of the locals just to have the kids grow up asking questions like, "Daddy, how comes botha yer eyes point straight and why don't you tawwlllk like us?"

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