Q.
What are the laws concerning persons under the
age of 18 getting married?
A.
If either of the parties is under 18 years of
age but is at least 16 years of age, the county
court judge or clerk of the circuit court shall
issue a license only if written consent is
obtained from the parents. The consent must be
acknowledged before an officer authorized to
take acknowledgements and administer oaths. The
license may be issued if both parents are
deceased or if the minors had been previously
married.
A second exception to the under 18 rule grants a
county court judge discretion to issue a license
to any male or female upon application of both
parents that they are the parents of a child, or
if a pregnancy is verified by the written
statement of a licensed physician.
In cases in which the male party
does not wish to admit that he is the father and
also tries to avoid financial responsibility,
the mother may bring proceedings in circuit
court to determine paternity. If the court
determines the male party to be the father of
the child, it may order the father to pay the
mother, her guardian, or such other person
assuming responsibility for the child, such sums
sufficient to pay reasonable attorney’s fee,
hospital or medical expenses, etc.