Family · Marriage License
Legal Age to Marry in New York
The general age and absolute minimum age to marry in New York, 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 New York
The general age, the permission path for a minor where allowed, and the absolute minimum.
New York set the minimum at 18 with no exceptions through a 2021 law, effective August 21, 2021. Previously, minors could marry with parental and judicial consent, so pre-2021 sources are out of date.
| The rule in this state | What it means |
|---|---|
| 18 for everyone | Domestic Relations Law §15-a provides that any marriage in which either party is under the age of eighteen years is prohibited. |
| No parental-consent route | There is no under-18 marriage with parental consent, court approval, or otherwise. |
| Clerk penalty | A town or city clerk who knowingly issues a license to a person under 18 commits a misdemeanor. |
| Exceptions and limits | What it means |
|---|---|
| None | No pregnancy, emancipation, military, or judicial-approval exception exists. The bar is absolute. |
What to know
Neutral, factual points about applying for a marriage license in New York. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Both parties must be 18
A New York marriage license requires both parties to be at least 18. There is no under-18 route.
- Do not rely on older consent rules
New York removed all under-18 exceptions in 2021. Sources describing marriage with parental or judicial consent below 18 are out of date.
- Confirm the current law
Check the current Domestic Relations Law §15-a, or consult a licensed New York attorney, before relying on the rule.
- Consider other legal questions separately
Marriage-license age is distinct from other age rules. For related questions, a licensed New York attorney can advise. The State Bar can refer you to one.
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.
→ New York State Bar — Lawyer ReferralThis 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 New York law in detail
In New York the age to marry is 18, with no exceptions. Domestic Relations Law §15-a states plainly that any marriage in which either party is under the age of eighteen years is prohibited. There is no route below 18: no parental consent, no court approval, no pregnancy or emancipation exception. A town or city clerk who knowingly issues a license to someone under 18 commits a misdemeanor. This reflects a 2021 change. Before then, New York permitted marriage by minors with parental and judicial consent, so older sources describing those paths are out of date. The rule is now among the strictest in the country, matching a small number of states that set 18 as an absolute floor. This page states the law as written, without characterization. Because minimum-age laws have moved in several states in recent years, confirm the current statute before relying on it.
Common questions
What is the legal age to marry in New York?
18, with no exceptions. Domestic Relations Law §15-a prohibits any marriage where either party is under 18. There is no parental-consent or court-approval route below 18.
Can a 17-year-old marry in New York with parental consent?
No. New York removed all under-18 exceptions in 2021. A 17-year-old cannot marry with parental consent, court approval, or any other route.
Did New York change its marriage-age law?
Yes. A 2021 law set the minimum at 18 with no exceptions, effective August 21, 2021. Before that, minors could marry with parental and judicial consent.
What happens if a New York clerk issues a license to a minor?
A town or city clerk who knowingly issues a marriage license to a person under 18 commits a misdemeanor under the statute.
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.