This bill raises the minimum age for marriage from 16 to 18 years of age. It amends RSA 457:4 to state that no person below the age of 18 years shall be capable of contracting a valid marriage, rendering all marriages contracted by such persons null and void. Additionally, the bill amends RSA 457:5 to establish that the age of consent for marriage is 18 years for both males and females, and RSA 457:8 to prohibit town clerks, magistrates, or ministers of religion from issuing marriage certificates or solemnizing marriages for anyone below the age of 18.

The bill also includes several repeals of existing statutes that relate to the marriage of minors, including RSA 457:5-a (petition for annulment), RSA 457:6 (marriage petition by a party under age), RSA 457:7 (grounds for granting a marriage petition by a party under age), and others that pertain to marriage licenses and registration forms for parties under age. Furthermore, the bill amends RSA 463:12, III(e) to remove the provision allowing guardians to consent to the marriage of a minor. The act is approved on June 14, 2024, and will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 457:4
As Amended by the Senate: 457:4, 457:5, 457:8, 463:12
Version adopted by both bodies: 457:4, 457:5, 457:8, 463:12
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 457:4, 457:5, 457:8, 463:12