I may be young, but am I ready?
Minor couples might have to wait for one more year until they’re 17 years old to get legally married in the state of Georgia.
A bill recently implemented in the Georgia House of Representatives would raise the now minimum marriage age from 16 to 17 with parental consent, all due respect.
If the bill is passed, Georgia would join 11 other states/provinces where the same rule applies, with couples having to be 17 or older to marry, according to information from the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Whereas the majority of the remaining states in America, including Georgia at this time, allow 16-year-olds to marry if they have permission from their parents.
“Couples that marry early have a higher likelihood of divorce,” said state Rep. Andrew Welch, a Republican from McDonough who introduced House Bill 228 on Friday. “I’m concerned about their well-being in making those decisions because it does have a significant impact on their future.”
In support of that, Those under 18 would have to complete at least six hours of premarital education from a professional, including instruction on conflict management, communication skills, financial responsibilities and parenting responsibilities. They would also have to be freed from parental control by a judge.
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