Can Your Underage Child Get Married?

Kids get the craziest ideas, and some even think that they're ready to get married. As a parent, you can prevent or allow your underage child to get married, and most parents opt for the former position. Marriage means a host of responsibilities and new situations for which most underage children are not prepared, and you do have some control over what your child does in certain situations.

First, you can prevent your underage child from getting married as long as he or she is not emancipated. If a legal emancipation has taken place, you don't have the right to tell him or her what to do, because the courts have declared your child a legal adult. However, if he or she is not emancipated, you are still the parent and, as a result, the authority figure. The courts cannot legally marry your child without your written consent to the marriage.

In most states, the law requires that children be at least eighteen years old before they can get married without parental consent. They won't even be able to obtain the marriage license without proof of their age, and although a few children have managed to hoodwink the courts, it is grounds for an annulment. If you think that your child might try to get married without your permission, it's a good idea to check with the local courthouse to see if an application has been filed.

It is also possible for children to travel to other states where the age of consent is lower, which is something you should consider if your underage child wants to get married. For example, some states allow people to get married at seventeen without the consent of a parent, so make sure your child is unable to travel if you think this might be a possibility. This doesn't mean that you need to lock your offspring in his or her bedroom, but keep a close eye out.