California Bans Child Marriage, Becoming 18th US State to Outlaw Practice
What Happened
California has passed a law banning child marriage after Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1267, which sets 18 as the minimum legal age for marriage and domestic partnerships. The law removes previous provisions that allowed minors to marry with parental consent and court approval and will take effect on January 1, 2027. California becomes the 18th US state to completely prohibit child marriage, while the practice remains legal in 32 states. According to advocacy group Unchained At Last, nearly 315,000 children were legally married in the US between 2000 and 2021.
Key Takeaways
The new law closes a longstanding loophole in California, which previously had no absolute minimum marriage age. Supporters say the move strengthens protections against child exploitation and forced marriages, while also increasing pressure on other US states to adopt similar bans.