California has officially abolished child marriage, a practice still legal in most U.S. states. Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, signed the legislation to protect minors. He stated this marks a crucial step in safeguarding young Californians.
Newsom was accompanied by Courtney Stodden, a child marriage survivor. Stodden, married at 16 to actor Doug Hutchison, described the relationship as abusive. In an Instagram post liked over 20,000 times, Stodden remarked, “I spent years wishing someone had protected the little girl I used to be. Today, California protected the next one.”
Previously, California had no minimum marriage age, being one of only three states with this absence. Under the new law, individuals must be 18 to marry in California.
Why Did It Take So Long?
California lawmakers struggled for nearly a decade to ban child marriage. Past efforts faced opposition from groups like Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, due to concerns about minors’ reproductive rights and healthcare access. A 2018 law instead instituted judicial reviews to prevent coercion and abuse.
By 2026, Planned Parenthood adopted a neutral stance on the ban, removing a major obstacle. Consequently, the legislation passed and was signed into law by Newsom.
What Is Child Marriage?
According to the United Nations, child marriage involves at least one party under 18, incapable of providing fully informed consent. UNICEF calls this a human rights violation, predominantly affecting girls. UNICEF also notes that girls marrying before 18 face higher risks of domestic violence and are less likely to continue education.
States Where Child Marriage Remains Legal
Advocates highlight that child marriage heightens minors’ vulnerability due to limited legal protections. In the U.S., inconsistencies in state laws enable relocation for marriages in states where it’s permitted.
In 2017, child marriage was legal across all 50 states. Nearly a decade later, 18 states and Washington D.C. have set the legal marriage age at 18. From 2000 to 2018, nearly 300,000 children, some as young as 10, were legally wed in the U.S. The majority were girls married to adult men, according to Unchained at Last, a nonprofit combatting child marriage.
Analysis of 2021 U.S. Census data by Unchained at Last shows over 8,000 California children, mostly girls, reported marriages in the previous year. Although child marriage remains legal in most U.S. states, many lawmakers continue efforts to change this.
Recent U.S. legislation reflects this trend. Earlier this year, Oklahoma became the 17th state to ban child marriage, mandating a minimum marriage age of 18.
States Which Have Fully Banned Child Marriage
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New York
- New Jersey
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
What Happens Next
California’s child marriage ban goes into effect on January 1. Oklahoma’s will be effective starting November 1.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Robinson and Cristina Diciu.