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Legal Marrage Age

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H

havunysj

Guest
My girlfreind is 17, and im 19, we want to get married. What are the laws on this? We live in Iowa, but i read someware that in Mississippi the age is 15 for females, is that true? could we just drive there and get married? We have gone to a meeting for people thinking about geting married, but her parents, at least her dad are against it? what can we do?
 


Ashley829

Member
What is the rush?
Why not finish school, go to college, get jobs then get married.
I know...you guys are in love and can't live without each other, but you certanily can't live together, Do you have a job? Do you have a place to live? And not with your parents. So, Why the ruch?
Diane
 

JETX

Senior Member
Iowa:
"595.2 Gender--age.
1. Only a marriage between a male and a female is valid.
2. Additionally, a marriage between a male and a female is valid only if each is eighteen years of age or older. However, if either or both of the parties have not attained that age, the marriage may be valid under the circumstances prescribed in this section.
3. If either party to a marriage falsely represents the party's self to be eighteen years of age or older at or before the time the marriage is solemnized, the marriage is valid unless the person who falsely represented their age chooses to void the marriage by making their true age known and verified by a birth certificate or other legal evidence of age in an annulment proceeding initiated at any time before the person reaches their eighteenth birthday. A child born of a marriage voided under this subsection is legitimate.
4. A marriage license may be issued to a male and a female either or both of whom are sixteen or seventeen years of age if:
a. The parents of the underaged party or parties certify in writing that they consent to the marriage. If one of the parents of any underaged party to a proposed marriage is dead or incompetent the certificate may be executed by the other parent, if both parents are dead or incompetent the guardian of the underaged party may execute the certificate, and if the parents are divorced the parent having legal custody may execute the certificate and
b. The certificate of consent of the parents, parent, or guardian is approved by a judge of the district court or, if both parents of any underaged party to a proposed marriage are dead, incompetent, or cannot be located and the party has no guardian, the proposed marriage is approved by a judge of the district court. A judge shall grant approval under this subsection only if the judge finds the underaged party or parties capable of assuming the responsibilities of marriage and that the marriage will serve the best interest of the underaged party or parties. Pregnancy alone does not establish that the proposed marriage is in the best interest of the underaged party or parties, however, if pregnancy is involved the court records which pertain to the fact that the female is pregnant shall be sealed and available only to the parties to the marriage or proposed marriage or to any interested party securing
an order of the court.
c. If a parent or guardian withholds consent, the judge upon application of a party to a proposed marriage shall determine if the consent has been
unreasonably withheld. If the judge so finds, the judge shall proceed to review the application under paragraph "b"."
Source: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/IACODE/1999/595/2.html

However, I agree with Ashley, you have a LOT of life ahead of you. Why rush this very important decision??
 

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