HB174
Log in to followAN ACT relating to child marriage.
Amend KRS 402.020 to prohibit marriage with a person under 18 years of age; exclude from being prohibited and void, marriages entered into in the Commonwealth before the effective date of this Act if both parties are 18 or older and marriages entered into in another state or country if both parties are 18 at time residency is established; amend KRS 402.030 to require courts to declare any marriage void if a person is under 18 years of age at the time of the petition; amend KRS 402.080 and 402.210 to prohibit the issuance of marriage licenses to persons under 18 years of age; repeal KRS 402.205, relating to petitions to courts filed by minors aged 17 years seeking permission to marry.
Introduced: January 7, 2026
Last action: January 14, 2026
Plain-language summary
This bill would make Kentucky law clear that no one under 18 years old can legally get married in the state. It would also prevent courts from issuing marriage licenses to minors and require courts to declare any such marriage void if challenged. It removes an existing process that allowed 17-year-olds to seek court permission to marry. Who it may affect: minors under 18 and their families.
Legislative History
Primary Sponsor
