If I’m 22 years old and my girlfriend is 17 and pregnant, is there away for use to get married without parental consent?

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If I’m 22 years old and my girlfriend is 17 and pregnant, is there away for use to get married without parental consent?

Asked on January 11, 2013 under Family Law, Virginia

Answers:

B.H.F., Member, Texas State Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

Virginia does have some limited provisions for marriage of persons who are under the age of 18.  The first is if she is an emancipated minor, then she would not need parental consent.  The second is if she has been abandoned by her parents or there is no guardian, then you and her can petition the court for consent to marry because she is pregnant.  The third exception is if she is a ward of the state because of abuse or neglect, then the juvenile department can give consent.  The exceptions are found in the Virginia Annotated Codes 20-49.  This is a link to a copy of this statute:  http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+cod+20-49.  Absent one of the exceptions, you will have to get parental consent in order to marry your girlfriend in Virginia.  Otherwise, you may have to look to a different state where the age of consent/marriage is seventeen years of age or older. 

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

The only way for the seventeen year old minor to get married to you without parental consent is for you and her to go to a state that allows marriage sans parental consent of a minor at age seventeen (17). I suggest that you look on the internet for states that allow marriages sans parental consent at age seventeen (17).


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