California has officially prohibited child marriage, with the legislation set to take effect on January 1. The new law requires individuals to be at least 18 years old to marry in the state, eliminating a previous system that allowed minors to wed if their parents consented and a judge approved the arrangement.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill alongside Courtney Stodden, a prominent advocate who was married to a 50-year-old Hollywood actor at age 16. Stodden described the legislation as a “victory” and pledged to continue working toward protecting children from marriage in all 50 states. Other survivors of child marriage also celebrated the measure, emphasizing that it sends a message of protection to young people across the nation.
According to advocacy group Unchained At Last, approximately 9,000 girls were married annually in California prior to this ban, with nearly all such marriages involving girls paired with adult men. Survivors have highlighted how the previous legal framework left minors trapped in relationships without options for divorce, often resulting in allegations of abuse and other harmful consequences. Sara Tasneem, who was forced into marriage at age 15, noted that the legislation represents the culmination of advocacy efforts beginning in 2017.
Californa becomes the 18th state to institute such a ban since 2018. Child marriage remains legal in 32 US states, though a growing number of jurisdictions have been moving to restrict or eliminate the practice. Advocates emphasize that many Americans are unaware of the prevalence of child marriage across the country and the documented harms associated with it.
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