Does a 19-year-old girl need to provide age proof to the county clerk to marry her boyfriend?

Full question:

This year I will be getting married to my boyfriend. I am 19 years old. A friend of mine has told me that I need to provide some proof of age to the county clerk. Is the information given by my friend correct? I am a resident of Michigan

  • Category: Marriage
  • Subcategory: License
  • Date:
  • State: Michigan

Answer:

In Michigan, when requested by the county clerk, a person who intends to get married may be required to submit a birth certificate or other proof of age in addition to the statement of age in the application. The relevant statutory provision is stated below.

MCLS § 551.103 reads:
 
“A person who is 18 years of age or older may contract marriage. A person who is 16 years of age but is less than 18 years of age may contract marriage with the written consent of 1 of the parents of the person or the person's legal guardian, as provided in this section. As proof of age, the person who intends to be married, in addition to the statement of age in the application, when requested by the county clerk, shall submit a birth certificate or other proof of age.”

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

There is no specific timeline for how long you should date before getting married. It varies by couple and depends on personal circumstances, maturity, and relationship dynamics. Some may feel ready after a few months, while others may date for years. It's important to communicate openly with your partner about your readiness for marriage.