California Bans Child Marriage: Minimum Marriage Age Set at 18

Governor Gavin Newsom has approved the Assembly Bill 1267 (AB 1267), which bans child marriage in California as of September 30, 2026. The legislation establishes the minimum marriage and domestic partnership ages at 18 years old with no exceptions. In other words, the legislation repeals the earlier laws that allowed minors to marry if there was parental consent or a court decision. AB 1267 takes effect on January 1, 2027.

What Is the Effect of the New California Law?

AB 1267 abolishes the legal provisions which used to allow minors to get married in California if there was parental consent and court decision.

As of January 1, 2027, anyone who is below 18 years old cannot obtain a marriage license or register a domestic partnership in California.

Before the recent law, California did not have any statutory minimum marriage age. Hence, the new law eliminates the exceptions which allowed minors to marry in certain cases.

California is Now the 18th US State with a Total Ban on Child Marriage

Based on data from the California Governor’s Office, 17 US states had totally banned child marriage without any exceptions prior to AB 1267 enactment in California.

Now, with California included in the group, the total reaches 18 US states. It also means that only two states, Mississippi and New Mexico, still lack a statutory minimum marriage age requirement in California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.

Legal status in the rest of the US states differs since in some cases, marriage under 18 years old is allowed with certain conditions such as consent from the parents, judicial permission, or other exceptions from the statute.

Child Marriage in California Prior to the New Law

Prior to the new law, California does not have an established statutory minimum age of marriage. The marriage was possible for minors under obtaining the required parental and judicial permission.

According to the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, about 35,000 minors have been married in California from 2000 to 2021, mostly girls.

Role of Child Marriage Survivors

The survivors of child marriage contributed greatly in the fight for legal reforms. Courtland Stodden, who was married at 16 years, joined in the signing of the bill together with Governor Newsom.

Other survivors like Brittany Bee and Sara Tasneem have also shared their stories in support of the legal reform for the minors.

The bill was sponsored by the Assemblymember Gail Pellerin and was backed up by many other advocates who had been fighting for years for such changes.

Child Marriage and Legal Protection of Minors

The child marriage issue is discussed in relation to issues of protection of children, consent, education, and freedom from any form of coercion and abuse.

The major question here is whether a child can consent to marriage legally. The minimum-age campaigners believe that fixing the minimum age at 18 eliminates loopholes that could allow a minor to marry unwillingly.

The recently passed legislation in California clearly shows an age limit without exceptions.