Family · Marriage License
Legal Age to Marry in Pennsylvania
The general age and absolute minimum age to marry in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania
The general age, the permission path for a minor where allowed, and the absolute minimum.
Pennsylvania set 18 as the floor with no exceptions in 2020, effective July 7, 2020. The statute history attributes the deletion of the under-18 exception to Act 18 of 2020, not "Act 30" as sometimes stated. Pre-2020 sources are out of date.
| The rule in this state | What it means |
|---|---|
| 18 for everyone | No marriage license may be issued if either of the applicants for a license is under 18 years of age, under 23 Pa.C.S. §1304. |
| No parental-consent route | The former exception that permitted a 16-year-old with parental consent, and a judge’s approval for younger applicants, was removed. There is no under-18 marriage. |
| Exceptions and limits | What it means |
|---|---|
| None | The prior exception was deleted, so no pregnancy, consent, or judicial route remains. |
What to know
Neutral, factual points about applying for a marriage license in Pennsylvania. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Both applicants must be 18
A Pennsylvania marriage license requires both applicants to be at least 18. There is no under-18 route.
- Do not rely on older consent rules
Pennsylvania removed all under-18 exceptions in 2020. Sources describing marriage with parental or judicial consent below 18 are out of date.
- Use the correct act reference
The 2020 change is Act 18 of 2020, effective July 7, 2020. If you see "Act 30," that is a common misstatement.
- Confirm the current law
Check the current 23 Pa.C.S. §1304, or consult a licensed Pennsylvania 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.
→ Pennsylvania Bar Association — Find a LawyerThis 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 Pennsylvania law in detail
In Pennsylvania the age to marry is 18, with no exceptions. Under 23 Pa.C.S. §1304, no marriage license may be issued if either applicant is under 18 years of age. There is no route below 18: the former exception that had allowed a 16-year-old to marry with parental consent, and permitted a judge to approve younger applicants, was removed. The change came in 2020, effective July 7, and the statute history attributes the deletion of the under-18 exception to Act 18 of 2020. That act number is worth noting, because some sources mistakenly call it "Act 30." As a result of the change, no pregnancy, consent, or judicial route to marry under 18 remains, and pre-2020 sources describing those paths are out of date. Pennsylvania now sits among the states that set 18 as an absolute floor. This page states the law as written, without characterization, and because minimum-age laws have shifted in several states, the current statute should be confirmed before relying on it.
Common questions
What is the legal age to marry in Pennsylvania?
18, with no exceptions. Under 23 Pa.C.S. §1304, no marriage license may be issued if either applicant is under 18. There is no parental-consent or court route below 18.
Can a 16-year-old marry in Pennsylvania with parental consent?
No. Pennsylvania removed all under-18 exceptions in 2020. A person under 18 cannot marry with parental consent, court approval, or any other route.
Which law set 18 as the marriage age in Pennsylvania?
Act 18 of 2020, effective July 7, 2020, removed the under-18 exception. Some sources incorrectly call it "Act 30"; the statute history attributes it to Act 18.
Are there any exceptions to the Pennsylvania marriage age?
No. The prior exception subsection was deleted, so no pregnancy, consent, or judicial route to marry under 18 remains.
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.