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California Outlaws Child Marriage, Enacting Complete Prohibition
Just the facts
Under previous California law, minors of any age could obtain court approval and parental consent to enter into a legal marriage. Advocacy groups that supported the bill estimated that approximately 9,000 minors were married in California annually prior to the ban. The new law establishes 18 as the absolute minimum legal age for marriage without exceptions for parental or judicial permission. California joins 17 other states, including New York and Delaware, that have enacted total prohibitions on underage marriage.
Why this is news
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation enacting a complete ban on child marriage in the state, making California the 18th U.S. state to outlaw the practice.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.