You can get married in high school in most states, but only if you meet your state’s age and consent rules. The baseline age to marry on your own is 18 almost everywhere, 19 in Nebraska, and 21 in Mississippi for marrying without parental consent. Below those ages, about two-thirds of states still allow 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with a parent’s permission and sometimes a judge’s sign-off. Sixteen states and Washington, D.C. have banned marriage under 18 outright, with no exceptions.
How Old You Have To Be in Your State
Every state writes its own rule. In most, 18 is the age you can apply for a license and marry without anyone’s permission. Nebraska sets that age at 19, matching its higher age of majority. Mississippi requires parental consent until 21.
Below those ages, many states let 16- and 17-year-olds marry with parental consent. A smaller group requires a judge’s approval on top of consent. A few states set the floor at 15, and California, as of late 2025, has no statutory minimum age at all, meaning a minor of any age could in theory marry through the judicial approval process.
On the other side, sixteen states and Washington, D.C. have closed the door completely. Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Maine, Oregon, and Missouri are among them. In those jurisdictions, no amount of parental consent or judicial approval can authorize a marriage involving anyone under 18. These laws change often, so confirm your state’s current rule before making plans.
Getting Parental Consent
Where minors can marry, parental consent is usually the first requirement. It typically applies to 16- and 17-year-olds, though the age range depends on your state.
Consent generally has to come from a parent or legal guardian with custody. The most common way to give it is for the parent to appear in person with the minor at the office that issues marriage licenses. Some places accept a notarized affidavit instead. Some states require both parents to consent; others accept one. If a parent is deceased, incapacitated, or can’t be found, there’s usually a procedure for proceeding with the other parent’s consent or a court order.
When a Judge Has To Approve
In some states, parental consent isn’t the whole story. The minor also has to petition a court, and the judge decides whether the minor is mature enough and whether the marriage actually serves the minor’s interests.
Several states require the court to appoint a guardian ad litem, an attorney whose job is to investigate independently and represent the minor’s best interests rather than relay what the family wants. In Colorado, the guardian ad litem files a report on the minor’s wishes, the parents’ views, the minor’s ability to handle marriage, and whether the minor can manage personal and financial affairs on their own. The investigation also looks at whether anyone is pressuring the minor and whether the minor understands what they’re agreeing to.
If both parties are minors, the court may appoint separate guardians ad litem. Expect the process to take weeks, not days, and expect to pay some of the costs.
What Marriage Does to Your Legal Status
Marrying as a minor isn’t just a change in relationship status. In most states, marriage automatically emancipates you, which means the law treats you as an adult for most purposes before you turn 18. Nebraska’s statute spells this out directly: minority ends upon marriage, whatever the age.
Contracts are the clearest example. Normally a minor can void contracts because minors lack full legal capacity. Marriage generally removes that protection. A married minor can sign a lease and open accounts, and is bound by those agreements the same way an adult would be. The specifics vary by state.
Medical decisions shift too. In many states, married minors can consent to their own medical, dental, and mental health care without a parent. Alabama allows any married minor to give effective consent to legally authorized health services for themselves or their child. Arizona lets any minor in a lawful marriage consent to hospital, medical, and surgical care without parental approval.
Can You Stop Going to School?
No, not in most states. This is one of the biggest misconceptions. Marriage is almost never listed as an exemption from compulsory education laws. Maryland is one of the few states that explicitly excuses married minors from attendance requirements. In the rest, the obligation to stay in school until 16, 17, or 18 applies whether you’re married or not. Walking away from school because you assumed marriage ended the requirement can trigger truancy consequences.
Money: Financial Aid, Insurance, and Taxes
FAFSA and College Aid
On the FAFSA, a married student is automatically classified as independent regardless of age. Your parents’ income and assets no longer count toward your expected family contribution. For students whose parents earn too much to qualify for need-based aid but aren’t actually paying the student’s bills, that reclassification can meaningfully increase eligibility for grants and subsidized loans. The trade-off is that your spouse’s income replaces your parents’ on the form.
Health Insurance
Marriage does not knock you off a parent’s health plan. Under the Affordable Care Act, plans that offer dependent coverage have to keep it in place until the child turns 26, and marital status isn’t a disqualifier. Congress removed the “not married” restriction from the statute in 2010. You can be married, living elsewhere, and still covered under a parent’s plan until your 26th birthday.
Taxes
Once you’re married, you file as married filing jointly or married filing separately. You’re not included on your parents’ return anymore. In most cases your parents also lose the ability to claim you as a dependent. IRS rules generally prohibit claiming a married child who files a joint return with their spouse, with narrow exceptions where the joint return was filed only to recover withheld taxes. Losing a dependent can cost your parents more than a thousand dollars in tax benefits, so it’s worth a conversation before the ceremony.
Getting the License
After all the age, consent, and approval requirements are satisfied, the paperwork is straightforward. You apply for a marriage license at the county clerk’s office or equivalent local office where the ceremony will take place. Most places require both parties to appear in person, though more states now allow parts of the process online.
Bring valid identification showing your identity and age. A driver’s license, state ID, or passport works almost everywhere. Birth certificates and Social Security numbers are commonly required too. If you aren’t a U.S. citizen, a valid foreign passport, naturalization papers, or resident alien card is typically accepted. Requirements vary by county, so call ahead.
License fees generally run from about $20 to $120 depending on the state and county. Some states discount the fee for couples who complete a premarital education course. Many states impose a short waiting period between issuing the license and performing the ceremony; some have none. Once issued, the license is valid for a limited window, commonly 60 to 90 days. After the ceremony, the officiant and witnesses sign it, and it has to be returned to the issuing office for recording.
If the Marriage Wasn’t Properly Authorized
A marriage entered into by a minor without the consent or court approval the state requires can usually be annulled. An annulment treats the marriage as though it never legally existed, which is not the same as a divorce. The failure to meet legal requirements is itself grounds for annulment in most states.
Deadlines vary. Some states set them as short as a few years after the marriage; others allow a petition anytime before the minor reaches adulthood. Parents or guardians can often file on the minor’s behalf. Waiting too long can forfeit the right to annul, so getting a family law attorney involved early matters.
Crossing State Lines To Marry
Some minors consider traveling to a state with looser rules. Under the longstanding “place of celebration” rule, most states recognize a marriage as valid if it was legal where it was performed. A marriage legally conducted in a state that allows 16-year-olds to marry with parental consent would generally be recognized in a state that sets the minimum at 18. That said, this area is shifting. Some states have started to resist recognizing out-of-state marriages that would violate their own public policy, especially as more states ban child marriage outright. Relying on the strategy without legal advice is risky.