23YO to Marry 16YO, Legal in Missouri?

What is the name of your state? Missouri

My fiance and I are to be married this winter. I am 23 years old, and she is 16. We have consent and permission from family on both sides. Is it legal for us to marry, or does she need to be emancipated first or something?

[rmet4nzkx]

She can marry with her parents permission.

[nextwife]

You are 23. Why in heavens name would you want to marry a CHILD? Even if she does have parents without an iota of common sense.

[mrtoledo]

Originally Posted by nextwife

You are 23. Why in heavens name would you want to marry a CHILD? Even if she does have parents without an iota of common sense.

Look what state the OP is from.

[nextwife]

You mean she's his cousin, too!

[mrtoledo]

Originally Posted by nextwife

You mean she's his cousin, too!

No, in Missouri, you can only marry your niece/nephew you are not allowed to marry your cousin.

growls HOW RUDE! Why do you all have to be so degrading? How would you feel if you posted to this board about something that was important to you, and all you got was jabbed at. I understand some might not approve of some of the situations that others post about, but their situation is NOT for us to judge. I thought this board was a way to get advice not a way to be made fun of or insulted. You may look down on me now, but, you know if you think about it, I'm right.


Rhonda (Ohio)

[You Are Guilty]

Originally Posted by opuslover143

growls HOW RUDE! Why do you all have to be so degrading? How would you feel if you posted to this board about something that was important to you, and all you got was jabbed at. I understand some might not approve of some of the situations that others post about, but their situation is NOT for us to judge. I thought this board was a way to get advice not a way to be made fun of or insulted. You may look down on me now, but, you know if you think about it, I'm right.

Rhonda (Ohio)

So if some redneck comes on here asking if it's OK for him to marry his 9 year old sister, then according to you, we shouldn't "judge" him and should willingly help him to achieve his goals? That kind of logic makes me think your parents were related before they were married too.

[Happy Trails]

Originally Posted by Need Help In MO

What is the name of your state? Missouri

My fiance and I are to be married this winter. I am 23 years old, and she is 16. We have consent and permission from family on both sides. Is it legal for us to marry, or does she need to be emancipated first or something?

**Wow, that is a huge age gap. Don't come back to this forum whining when it doesn't work out.

[carofl93]

Not to dis you, Happy Trails, but there is a 7 year gap between my hubby and myself. We knew each other as friends for about 6 years, then married...he was 33, I was 26 and we're working out just fine. I do hope that the OP and his soon to be child bride can wait it out until she grows up, though.

[cbg]

There's a HUGE difference between a 16 year old and a 23 year old, and a couple ten years older. A 16 year old is NOT old enough to be making this kind of decision. A 26 year old is.

I don't mean this in a rude way, but there is no other way to say it. Allowing a 16 year old to marry a 23 year old is STUPID. If her parents are seriously in favor of this, then in my opinion they are not fit parents. There is NO WAY a 16 year old should be getting married at all, let alone to someone who is almost 1/2 again as old as she.

If this marriage goes through, I'm prepared to offer money that a few years from now they'll both be bitterly unhappy.

Originally Posted by You Are Guilty

So if some redneck comes on here asking if it's OK for him to marry his 9 year old sister, then according to you, we shouldn't "judge" him and should willingly help him to achieve his goals? That kind of logic makes me think your parents were related before they were married too.

You know, this is just childish.....The "judging" was in referrence to the coments made about the incest comments, not the age. I don't approve of the age thing of her being too young and would hope they could wait till she is of age. I mean if it is meant to be then they will still be together in 2 years, right? There are better ways to handle posts like the OP, like, not answer it at all, or better yet, if you absolutly have to post a reply, how about something like, 'I'm sorry, but I have no comment.' Since you apparently would'nt want to "willingly help him to achieve his goals" or "She can marry with her parents permission," instead of being rude.
The posters not only made a crack at the OP, but also at his fiance's mother. What kind of chit is that? You say that he is marrying a child, but think about it, who are the ones acting like children?

Rhonda (Ohio)

[Happy Trails]

Originally Posted by carofl93

Not to dis you, Happy Trails, but there is a 7 year gap between my hubby and myself. We knew each other as friends for about 6 years, then married...he was 33, I was 26 and we're working out just fine. I do hope that the OP and his soon to be child bride can wait it out until she grows up, though.

**Yeah, I know things can work out when children have been given a chance to mature and experience adulthood. I have an aunt her married a guy who was 11-yrs. her senior. They only knew each other for two months. They have been married for 41-yrs., happily I will add, but she was in her mid-20's.
**At the age of 16, she hasn't had enough of life's experiences to make a life long decision. Only my opinion, but I'm sticking to it.

[You Are Guilty]

And we all know anecdoal "evidence" is the best evidence of all, too!

I was twenty years old and and married my wife when she was just a fertilized egg, and we're still together, so clearly, we should all be allowed to marry eggs (and sperm too I guess, don't want to be sexist).

I have to say being 16 at one point I was still immature, Then I meet my EXHusband when I was 17, got married at 19 and divorced 7 years later. I knew that getting married at a young age was pretty stupid. And yes, at the time I got married I was pretty stupid. I hope that The 23 year old will give the 16yr old some time to REALLY think about what is really going on and realize there is something far more then just a love crush.