Family · Marriage License
Legal Age to Marry in Georgia
The general age and absolute minimum age to marry in Georgia, the parental-consent or court rules for a minor where permitted, and recent changes. Cited to the statute and stated as written.
The rule and exceptions in Georgia
The general age, the permission path for a minor where allowed, and the absolute minimum.
Georgia set 17 as the floor and replaced parental consent with an emancipation requirement in 2019 (House Bill 228, effective July 1, 2019). Sources describing marriage at 16 with parental consent, or a pregnancy exception, predate that change and are out of date.
| The rule in this state | What it means |
|---|---|
| 18 without consent | A person 18 or older may marry without any consent or court involvement. |
| A 17-year-old must be emancipated | If an applicant is 17, the clerk may issue a license only with documentary proof of emancipation, by operation of law or by a petition filed under Article 10 of Chapter 11 of Title 15, under O.C.G.A. §19-3-2. |
| No parental-consent route | A parent cannot consent a 17-year-old into marriage. The 2019 law replaced the old parental-consent path with the emancipation requirement. |
| Three added conditions for a 17-year-old | At least 15 days must have passed since the emancipation, the older party may be no more than four years older than the 17-year-old, and each 17-year-old must present a certificate of premarital education. |
| Exceptions and limits | What it means |
|---|---|
| Emancipation is the only route | The emancipation requirement is the sole path for a 17-year-old. There is no parental-consent route and no pregnancy exception since 2019. |
| No route below 17 | Seventeen is the floor. No license may be issued for the marriage of any party under 17. |
What to know
Neutral, factual points about applying for a marriage license in Georgia. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- At 18 or older, no consent is needed
A person 18 or older can obtain a Georgia marriage license without consent or a court order.
- A 17-year-old must be emancipated first
A 17-year-old must show documentary proof of emancipation before a license may be issued. Parental consent alone will not do since 2019.
- Meet the added conditions
Expect a 15-day wait after emancipation, a four-year cap on the age gap, and a premarital education certificate.
- Confirm the current law
Check the current O.C.G.A. §19-3-2, or consult a licensed Georgia attorney, before relying on the rule.
Marriage-license rules and any minor exceptions turn on the current statute and your facts. This resource can connect you with a court self-help center or a licensed attorney.
→ State Bar of Georgia · Lawyer Referral ServiceThis is general legal information, not legal advice, and it states the law as written. Minimum-age laws have changed in several states recently, so confirm the current statute with a court resource or a licensed attorney.
The Georgia law in detail
In Georgia the general age to marry is 18, and a person that age or older needs no consent. For a minor, O.C.G.A. §19-3-2 provides one narrow route: if an applicant is 17, the clerk may issue a license only with documentary proof that the applicant was emancipated, either by operation of law or by a petition filed under Article 10 of Chapter 11 of Title 15. A 2019 law, House Bill 228, made this change effective July 1, 2019. It removed the old parental-consent path and the pregnancy exception, so a parent can no longer sign a 17-year-old into marriage. Three conditions apply on top of emancipation: at least 15 days must have passed since the emancipation, the older party may be no more than four years older than the 17-year-old, and each 17-year-old must present a certificate of premarital education. No license may be issued for anyone under 17. This page states the law as written.
Common questions
What is the legal age to marry in Georgia?
The general age is 18. A 17-year-old may marry only if emancipated and meeting added conditions under O.C.G.A. §19-3-2, and no one under 17 may marry.
Can a 16-year-old marry in Georgia with parental consent?
No. Since 2019, Georgia bars marriage under 17, and a 17-year-old must be emancipated. Parental consent no longer authorizes a minor marriage.
What conditions apply to a 17-year-old marrying in Georgia?
The 17-year-old must be emancipated, at least 15 days must have passed since the emancipation, the older party may be no more than four years older, and the minor must complete premarital education.
Does pregnancy let a minor marry in Georgia?
No. The 2019 law repealed the pregnancy exception. Pregnancy is not a route to marry under 18 in Georgia.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.