Fact check: Which states have laws that allow marriage under the age of 18 with parental consent?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided suggest that child marriage is still legal in a significant number of U.S. states, with some sources stating that 34 states still allow child marriage ^{[1] [2]}. Additionally, 4 U.S. states do not require any minimum age for marriage with a parental or judicial waiver ^{[1] [2]}. Some states have passed bans on child marriage, with 16 states having passed such bans ^[1]. The states that have raised their minimum marriage age to 18 include Washington, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia ^[3]. A list of states that have passed bans on child marriage is provided by ^[1], which includes Delaware, New Jersey, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Michigan, Washington, Virginia, New Hampshire, Maine, Oregon, and Missouri. The majority of states still allow marriage under 18 with parental consent ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

• The original statement does not provide a comprehensive list of states with laws allowing marriage under 18 with parental consent, which is a crucial piece of information ^{[1] [2]}.
• The history and evolution of child marriage laws in the United States are not discussed in detail ^[4], which could provide valuable context for understanding the current state of child marriage laws.
• The impact of child marriage on individuals and society is not fully explored ^[2], which could help to inform discussions around the issue.
• Alternative viewpoints, such as the perspectives of individuals who have been affected by child marriage or experts in the field, are not presented in the original statement ^{[2] [5]}.
• The progress made in banning child marriage, including the number of states that have passed bans and the introduction of the Child Marriage Prevention Act of 2024, is not fully discussed ^{[6] [4]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading in its implication that child marriage is not a significant issue in the United States, as the majority of states still allow marriage under 18 with parental consent ^[1]. Additionally, the statement does not provide a comprehensive list of states with laws allowing marriage under 18 with parental consent, which could be seen as a lack of transparency ^{[1] [2]}. The sources cited, such as ^[1] and ^[1], may have a bias towards highlighting the issue of child marriage and advocating for its ban, which could influence the presentation of information ^[1]. The fact that 4 U.S. states do not require any minimum age for marriage with a parental or judicial waiver is particularly concerning ^{[1] [2]}, and may benefit organizations that advocate for the rights of children and women ^[2]. On the other hand, the fact that some states have passed bans on child marriage may benefit organizations that advocate for the protection of children and the prevention of child marriage ^{[6] [1]}.