child marriage

Delaware became the first state in the union to render all forms of child marriage illegal when Gov. John Carney (D) signed a bill this week authored by Rep. Kim Williams (D).

Marriage will now only be possible for 16- and 17-year-olds in the state of Arizona under certain conditions, due to a bill signed into law by Gov. Doug Ducey (R) this week.

Republican Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita of Arizona has introduced a bill that would establish 18 as the minimum age for marriage in the state. Currently, Arizona has no minimum age for marriage.

Donna Pollard entered an Indiana mental health facility at the age of 14. Two years later, she was married to a 31-year-old man who had been one of her counselors at the facility.

Tahirih Justice Center recently released a report outlining child marriage laws in each state across the country. The center found that 27 states have no legal minimum age for marriage, meaning that there is no “floor” beneath which a child cannot be married, as long as a court and/or a parent gives consent.