Bill > LD1185

This bill modifies Maine's marriage laws to prohibit individuals under 18 years of age from getting married by repealing the previous provision that allowed marriage for individuals 17 years old and replacing it with a new requirement that marriage licenses cannot be issued to anyone under 18 years of age. Specifically, the bill amends Section 19-A MRSA §652, which governs marriage licensing, by removing the existing language that permitted 17-year-olds to marry and replacing it with a clear prohibition on issuing marriage licenses to anyone under 18. This change effectively raises the minimum marriage age in Maine to 18 years old, eliminating any previous exceptions that may have allowed younger individuals to marry, and aims to protect minors from potentially coercive or inappropriate marriage situations by establishing a uniform age of legal marriage.

Justice

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1185&snum=132