Is this marriage to avoid criminal charges?
You must be 18 years old or older to marry without parental consent. A birth certificate may be necessary to show proof of age.
If either partner is under 18, parents or legal guardians must be present. If a parent can not be present, due to death, separation, divorce or other circumstances, proper evidence must be presented for verification. You will need a certified copy of your birth certificate. If you are under 16 you can not marry without a court order.
Indiana Code 35-42-4-5
Enacted 1984
Amended 1994
IC 35-42-4-5 Sec. 5. (a) A person eighteen (18) years of age or older who
knowingly or intentionally directs, aids, induces, or causes a child
under the age of sixteen (16) to touch or fondle himself or another child
under the age of sixteen (16) with intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual
desires of a child or the older person commits vicarious sexual
gratification, a Class D felony. However, the offense is a Class C
felony if a child involved in the offense is under the age of fourteen
(14), and it is a Class B felony if the offense is committed by using or
threatening the use of deadly force, or while armed with a deadly
weapon, and a Class A felony if it results in serious bodily injury.
(b) A person eighteen (18) years of age or older who knowingly or
intentionally directs, aids, induces, or causes a child under the age
of sixteen (16) to:
(1) engage in sexual intercourse with another child under sixteen
(16) years of age;
(2) engage in sexual conduct with an animal other than a human being;
or
(3) engage in deviate sexual conduct with another person;
with intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of a child or the
older person commits vicarious sexual gratification, a Class C
felony. However, the offense is a Class B felony if any child involved in
the offense is less than fourteen (14) years of age, and it is a Class A
felony if the offense is committed by using or threatening the use of
deadly force, or while armed with a deadly weapon, or if it results in
serious bodily injury.
Indiana Code 35-42-4-3
Enacted 1976
Amended 1994
IC 35-42-4-3 Sec. 3. (a) A person who, with a child under fourteen (14)
years of age, performs or submits to sexual intercourse or deviate
sexual conduct commits child molesting, a Class B felony. However, the
offense is a Class A felony if it is committed by using or threatening the
use of deadly force, or while armed with a deadly weapon, or if it results
in serious bodily injury.
(b) A person who, with a child under fourteen (14) years of age, performs
or submits to any fondling or touching, of either the child or the older
person, with intent to arouse or to satisfy the sexual desires of either
the child or the older person, commits child molesting, a Class C
felony. However, the offense is a Class A felony if it is committed by
using or threatening the use of deadly force, or while armed with a
deadly weapon.
(c) It is a defense that the accused person reasonably believed that the
child was sixteen (16) years of age or older at the time of the conduct.
Indiana Code 35-42-4-9
Enacted 1994
Amended 1994
IC 35-42-4-9 Sec. 9. (a) A person at least eighteen (18) years of age who,
with a child at least fourteen (14) years of age but less than sixteen
(16) years of age, performs or submits to sexual intercourse or deviate
sexual conduct commits sexual misconduct with a minor, a Class C
felony. However, the offense is a Class A felony if it is committed by
using or threatening the use of deadly force, or while armed with a
deadly weapon, or if it results in serious bodily injury.
(b) A person at least eighteen (18) years of age who, with a child at least
fourteen (14) years of age but less than sixteen (16) years of age,
performs or submits to any fondling or touching, of either the child or
the older person, with intent to arouse or to satisfy the sexual desires
of either the child or the older person, commits sexual misconduct with
a minor, a Class D felony. However, the offense is a Class B felony if it is
committed by using or threatening the use of deadly force or while armed
with a deadly weapon.
(c) It is a defense that the accused person reasonably believed that the
child was at least sixteen (16) years of age at the time of the conduct.
(d) It is a defense that the child is or has ever been married.