California has enacted a law prohibiting marriage for anyone under 18, joining 17 other states and Washington, D.C. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill with survivor and advocate Courtney Stodden present, calling it a "long overdue measure." The shift followed years of debate and a change in opposition from some groups in 2026. The ban takes effect on January 1 and aims to close a significant legal loophole that left many minors vulnerable.
California Bans Child Marriage: Sets Minimum Age At 18, Joining 18 States + D.C.
Advocates and child marriage survivors from the group "Unchained at Last" put on wedding gowns, veils, chains and tape over their mouths as they gather on Boston Common before marching to the State House to call for an end to child marriages in Boston, Massachusetts on September 22, 2021.
California has passed landmark legislation banning child marriage by setting the minimum legal marriage age at 18 with no exceptions. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill at a public ceremony, calling the move a "long overdue measure to protect young Californians and minors."
"Today, California kids are safer than ever before," Newsom said at the signing.
Advocates and survivors joined the governor at the ceremony, including Courtney Stodden, who has publicly described marrying actor Doug Hutchison at 16 — with parental consent — as an abusive relationship. In an Instagram post after the signing, Stodden wrote, "I spent years wishing someone had protected the little girl I used to be. Today, California protected the next one."
Until this law, California had been one of only three U.S. states with no minimum marriage age. The new statute replaces earlier 2018 safeguards that had required judges to evaluate potential coercion and abuse before approving underage marriages.
Why the Change Happened
For nearly a decade lawmakers in California pushed to prohibit child marriage outright. Earlier proposals faced opposition from organizations concerned about preserving minors' access to reproductive and health care, but positions shifted in 2026 when Planned Parenthood adopted a neutral stance on a full ban. That change removed a major barrier and helped the bill advance through the legislature.
Scope and Concerns
International organizations define child marriage as a union where at least one party is under 18. The United Nations and UNICEF call it a human rights violation and note that girls are disproportionately affected. UNICEF warns that girls who marry before 18 are more likely to experience domestic violence and less likely to stay in school.
Advocates highlight additional risks in the U.S. because of a patchwork of state laws: minors can be transported to states with lower age limits to obtain a marriage license. Between 2000 and 2018, nearly 300,000 children — some as young as 10 — were legally married in the United States, according to the nonprofit Unchained At Last. Analysis of 2021 U.S. Census data by that group found that more than 8,000 children in California, mostly girls, reported being married in the prior year.
Where Bans Stand
With California's action, 18 U.S. states plus Washington, D.C. have raised the minimum marriage age to 18 and effectively banned child marriage. The states with full bans are listed below.
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New York
- New Jersey
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
California's ban is scheduled to take effect on January 1; Oklahoma's recently passed law takes effect on November 1. Lawmakers and advocacy groups continue to pursue legislation in other states to close remaining loopholes and prevent minors from being married in jurisdictions with lower age limits.
Sources: Text of the California legislation, statements from the governor's office, Instagram posts by Courtney Stodden, reporting from advocacy group Unchained At Last, and guidance from the United Nations and UNICEF.
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