AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAWFUL AGE OF MARRIAGE TO SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, AND TO PROVIDE A MAXIMUM FOUR-YEAR AGE DIFFERENCE FOR A SIXTEEN OR SEVENTEEN YEAR-OLD TO MARRY. SL 2021-119. Enacted Aug. 26, 2021. Effective Aug. 26, 2021.
Bill Summaries: S35 MAX 4-YR AGE DIFF TO MARRY UNDER 18 YRS. (NEW)
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Tracking:
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Bill S 35 (2021-2022)Summary date: Aug 26 2021 - View Summary
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Bill S 35 (2021-2022)Summary date: Jun 22 2021 - View Summary
House committee substitute amends the 3rd edition as follows.
Revises part of the proposed changes to GS 51-3 regarding capacity to marry and void marriages, to maintain current law providing that marriages between a male person under 16 years of age and any female, or between a female person under 16 years of age and any male, are void (previously deleted).
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Bill S 35 (2021-2022)Summary date: May 12 2021 - View Summary
Senate amendment amends the 2nd edition as follows.
Further amends GS 51-2, raising the legal age to marry from 14 to 16. Additionally requires persons under 18 to file with the register of deeds a certified copy of an order issued by a district court authorizing the marriage as provided in GS 51-2.1, as amended, prior to being issued a marriage license. Makes conforming changes; changes the section's title.
Makes conforming changes to GS 51-2.1 to eliminate provisions regarding marriage by persons under 16. Specifies that a district court judge can issue an order authorizing a marriage between a person 16 years of age and under 18 years of age, to a person no more than four years older (age difference limitation previously proposed) upon making required findings.
Makes conforming changes to GS 51-3, regarding capacity to marry and void marriages.
Changes the act's long title.
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Bill S 35 (2021-2022)Summary date: Apr 28 2021 - View Summary
Senate committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. Deletes the content of the previous edition and replaces it with the following. Amends GS 51-2 to allow a (1) person over age 16 and under age 18; or (1) person over age 14 and under age 16, to marry (as allowed under GS 51-2.1) a person no more than four years older (previously, allowed those persons to marry with no restriction on the age of the person they married). Makes conforming changes to GS 51-2.1 (concerning marriage of certain underage parties). Amends the act's titles.
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Bill S 35 (2021-2022)Summary date: Feb 1 2021 - View Summary
Identical to H 41, filed 2/1/21.
Amends GS 51-2 to eliminate the existing exceptions for persons to marry under the age of 18, thereby making the legal age to marry (18) absolute. Makes conforming changes to GS 51-3, GS 51-16 and GS 51-17, relating to unlawful marriages and marriage licenses. Makes conforming repeals of GS 51-2.1 (concerning marriage of certain underage parties) and GS 51-2.2 (defining parent as the term relates to annulment of unlawful underage marriages).