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Kentucky Votes To Ban Child Marriage
Kentucky joins the growing list of states imposing age limits and other restrictions on child marriage, to rein in a practice that has been largely overlooked in the United States.
Updated at 9:40 p.m. ET
Kentucky is one of 25 states where, provided certain conditions are met, a child can walk down the aisle to marry at any age – no bride or groom is too young.
A bill approved by the Kentucky Legislature and headed to the governor's desk would change that. Kentucky's S.B. 48 would make it illegal for anyone 16 and younger to marry. The bill cleared the Kentucky House of Representatives on Friday.
All states generally require those 17 and younger to get consent from a parent or judge. Nine states, including Kentucky under current law, allow officials to waive the minimum age requirements
