California has enacted a ban on child marriage. Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1267 on September 30, 2026, setting the state’s minimum age for marriage and domestic partnership at 18.
The law repeals provisions that previously allowed a minor to enter a marriage or domestic partnership with parental consent.
What changes under AB 1267
The central change is straightforward: parental permission will no longer create an exception allowing a person under 18 to marry or enter a domestic partnership in California.
The Governor’s Office says the law is intended to protect minors from coercive or abusive relationships and to bring California into line with a growing number of states that prohibit child marriage without exceptions.
California had been an outlier on minimum age
Before AB 1267, California did not use a simple statutory minimum marriage age of 18 in all cases. The state allowed minors to marry through a process involving parental consent and court approval.
Advocates for the new law argued that minors can face unique barriers to leaving a marriage, obtaining independent legal help or resisting pressure from adults and family members.
The law also covers domestic partnerships
The measure applies not only to marriage but also to domestic partnerships, setting the minimum age at 18 for both legal relationships.
When does the change take effect?
Residents should check the enacted text of AB 1267 and official guidance for the precise effective date and any transition provisions. California laws signed at the end of a legislative session do not all necessarily take effect on the date of signature.
Why this is a statewide legal change
Marriage licensing is administered locally through county offices, but eligibility rules are governed by state law. That means county clerks across California will apply the statewide minimum-age requirement once the law becomes effective.
California58 will update related county and vital-records guidance as official implementation information becomes available.
Official sources
Governor of California – AB 1267 announcement
California Legislative Information
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