Maine Raises Marriage Age to 18 Without Parental Consent
AUGUSTA — Maine has officially raised the legal age for marriage to 18, necessitating parental consent for anyone under that age. The new legislation, known as LD 1185, received final approval from the Legislature and will take effect 90 days after the current session adjourns. Governor Janet Mills opted not to sign or veto the bill, allowing it to become law.
Spearheaded by Rep. Laura Supica, D-Bangor, this bill amends previous legislation that permitted marriage at 17. Supica highlighted concerns that the earlier law could potentially facilitate forced marriages, as it only required parental consent without considering the minor’s rights. “Too many children are forced into marriages… By raising the age requirement, we can eliminate this danger,” she stated during a public hearing.
The new law has garnered applause from advocacy groups like Unchained At Last, which has campaigned for six years against child marriage. In a prepared statement, they celebrated the law’s passage, calling it a significant step forward in protecting young individuals from forced marriages. However, they expressed disappointment over Mills’ decision not to formally endorse the bill.
With this change, Maine becomes the 14th state to prohibit child marriage. The previously existing law, allowing marriages at ages 16 and 17 with parental consent, was only established in 2020. The legislation received overwhelming approval in the House (93-52) and Senate (23-11), yet the reasoning behind the governor’s non-endorsement remains unclear, as aides did not respond to inquiries.
Maine’s commitment to increasing the legal age for marriage marks a vital progression toward safeguarding the rights and well-being of minors.
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