Can my 17-year-old fiancée marry without emancipation in Louisiana?

Full question:

My fiance is 17 and we live in Louisiana. we know that she can move out at 17 and were about to do that but we want to get married and we wanted to know if we can just go do it or if shed have to get emancipated, if so how would we go about doing that? (her dad most likely won't want to sign)

  • Category: Minors
  • Date:
  • State: Louisiana

Answer:

In Louisiana, a minor is automatically emancipated by marriage, regardless of age (La. Civ. Code Art. 379). This means your fiancée does not need to be emancipated separately to marry you. However, you should check with local authorities or a legal professional to ensure you meet all requirements for marriage in your area.

If her father is unwilling to sign, you may still proceed with marriage since emancipation occurs upon marriage itself.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

In Louisiana, a 17-year-old can express a preference about which parent to live with, but they cannot legally choose on their own. The court typically considers the minor's wishes in custody decisions, but the final determination is made based on the best interests of the child. If there are custody disputes, a judge may need to intervene to decide the living arrangements.