Bill prohibiting marriage licenses to minors signed into law
By Rob Polansky
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HARTFORD, Connecticut (WFSB) — A bill that bans the granting of marriage licenses to those under the age of 18 was signed into law on Friday.
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, serving in her capacity as acting governor, signed the bill during a ceremony.
Bysiewicz’s office said the legislation, Public Act 23-44, was sought by advocates in an effort to prevent children from being forced into marriages. It was part of a growing nationwide movement to enact state laws that prevent minors from being able to marry.
The law officially takes effect on July 1.
“I am proud that Connecticut has joined its neighbors in ending child marriage and closed a loophole that would allow some to venue shop for marriage in our state,” Bysiewicz said. “When we allow child marriage, we deprive children of their childhood and their future. The legislature has set a number of reasonable restrictions for persons under the age of 18, and through this new law we are eliminating a practice that undermines our children’s health, safety, education and future economic opportunities.”
Gov. Ned Lamont said he asked Bysiewicz to sign the legislation on his behalf while he is out of the state on an economic development mission in support of Connecticut’s aerospace industry.
“Child marriage is a human rights violation,” Lamont said. “The impact of being forced into marriage underage can be devastating, and both physically and emotionally harmful. In America, we should be setting an example for the rest of the world on what it means to stand up for children and their basic rights. I urge other states across our country to join this growing coalition and raise the marriage age to 18.”
Under current state law, which was enacted in 2017, a probate judge can issue marriage licenses to 16 and 17-year-olds with the written consent of a parent or guardian. Prior to the enactment of that law, Connecticut did not have any age requirement for marriage. Between 2000 and 2021, there were 1,251 child marriages in Connecticut. In the six years that have passed since the minimum age was raised to 16, there have been 33.
Connecticut became the ninth state to adopt a law prohibiting child marriage. In the last several years, all of Connecticut’s neighboring states have enacted similar laws, including Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.
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