California Officially Prohibits Child Marriage

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California has made a significant legal change by officially prohibiting child marriage. This decision addresses a practice still permitted in most U.S. states. Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, signed the law, referring to it as a necessary action to safeguard young Californians and minors.

Governor Newsom stated, “Today, California kids are safer than ever before,” highlighting the importance of this legislative change for the state’s youth.

The signing ceremony included Courtney Stodden, an advocate and survivor of child marriage. Stodden’s parents consented to her marriage to 50-year-old actor Doug Hutchison when she was 16, a situation she describes as abusive. Reflecting on the new law, Stodden shared on Instagram, stating, “I spent years wishing someone had protected the little girl I used to be. Today, California protected the next one.” Her message received significant attention with over 20,000 likes.

Legislative Journey

California previously had no minimum age for marriage, remaining one of three states without such restrictions. The new statute now mandates that individuals must be 18 to marry.

Efforts to ban child marriage in California spanned nearly ten years. Initial proposals faced opposition from entities such as Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, which were concerned about minors’ reproductive rights and healthcare access. A 2018 law introduced protections requiring judicial review for potential coercion.

Positions started to shift in 2026, with Planned Parenthood adopting a neutral stance, removing a major barrier. Subsequently, the legislation passed, leading to Governor Newsom’s signing.

Understanding Child Marriage

The United Nations defines child marriage as a matrimonial union where at least one individual is under 18, and children are unable to offer full, informed consent. According to UNICEF, this constitutes a violation of human rights, disproportionately affecting girls.

“Girls who marry before 18 are more likely to experience domestic violence and less likely to remain in school.”

Legal Landscape Across the U.S.

Child marriage exposes minors to potential abuse, with advocates emphasizing its dangers due to limited legal protections. The U.S. presents challenges with varying state laws, facilitating marriages in states where they remain legal.

By 2017, marriage below 18 was legal across all states. However, nearly a decade later, 18 states and Washington D.C. have enacted bans, raising the legal marriage age to 18.

Data reveals that between 2000 and 2018, around 300,000 children, some as young as ten, were legally wed in the U.S., primarily consisting of girls married to adult males. The organization Unchained at Last, dedicated to eradicating child marriage, reports that over 8,000 California children, primarily girls, were married within the prior year according to the 2021 U.S. Census data.

While child marriage remains lawful in most states, legislative efforts continue. Earlier in the year, Oklahoma became the 17th state to implement a full ban, setting the marriage age at 18 with no exceptions.