Can I marry my boyfriend without parental consent if I’m 16?
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Can I marry my boyfriend without parental consent if I’m 16?
He is over 18. My mother does not know that I am with him; I’m terrified she will try and press charges against him. He takes amazing care of me, buying me clothes, food, my necessities and will soon be paying for my education. We have talked about marriage on multiple occations and have agreed that if we can do it legally before I’m 18 then we will take the steps in doing so. Is there any legal way in which we can get married without my mother’s consent? I have a father who is in a state prison, would it be possible to marry my boyfriend if I managed to get my father’s consent, I would like this option to be a last resort. Or could we get married without either of my parents’ consent. We are willing to get married in another state if their laws allow that if mine does not.
Asked on June 18, 2016 under Family Law, Tennessee
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
In TN, a person get married without parental consent but only if they are 18 years of age or older. A minor may get married if they are at least 16 years old but only with the consent of their parents (or legal guardian). A minor may also get married without parental consent if they obtain judicial consent (i.e. court approval) if the parents are "absent" (i.e. the parents and child are estranged, the child has been emancipated, the parents are dead, etc.).
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