Minors and Marriage
People under age 18 usually cannot legally marry. Learn more here.
A person under age 18 years cannot marry unless they have been emancipated, a process also known as having the disabilities of minority removed for general purposes.
This requirement was effective as of September 1, 2017. Read more about legal emancipation in Texas here.
See Texas Family Code 2.003, 2.101, and 6.205.
A person under 18 years of age applying for a marriage license must:
- Appear before the county clerk;
- Submit proof of identity and age;
- Provide the information required in the application for a marriage license;
- Provide the clerk with a certified copy of the court order removing the disabilities of minority of the person for general purposes; and
- Take the oath printed on the application for a marriage license and sign the application before the county clerk.
See Texas Family Code 2.003, 2.101, and 6.205.
No. A person under the age of 18 may not be a party to an informal marriage or execute a declaration of informal marriage.
See Texas Family Code 2.003, 2.101, and 6.205.