17 States Ban Child Marriage Since 2018, But Minors Can Still Wed in Most of US
More states are banning child marriage, with 17 states having prohibited marriage before age 18 since 2018. However, most of the US still allows minors to marry with parental or judicial approval. Utah was among the states with the highest…
Salt Lake City, UT, August 8, 2026 —
A growing number of states are enacting laws to prohibit marriage for individuals under the age of 18. Since 2018, a total of 17 states have passed legislation banning marriage before an individual reaches adulthood.
Despite this trend, the majority of the United States still permits minors to marry under certain conditions. These conditions typically involve obtaining consent from a parent or guardian, or securing approval from a judge. This means that in many parts of the country, marriage before the age of 18 remains legally possible.
In 2021, data indicated that Utah was among the states that experienced a higher incidence of child marriages. Specific figures for the number of such marriages in Utah for that year were not provided in the summary.
The legislative efforts to raise the marriage age reflect a broader societal discussion about the protection of minors and the potential harms associated with early marriage. Advocates for these bans often cite concerns about exploitation, lack of maturity, and the impact on education and long-term well-being.
While the number of states banning child marriage has increased, the remaining legal pathways for minors to marry mean that the issue continues to be a focus for lawmakers and child welfare organizations across the nation. Further details on the specific approval processes in states that still permit underage marriage were not included in the provided summary.
Story summarized from the original created by Anna Claire Vollers on utahnewsdispatch.com, see more information here.
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