Senate Bill 35 Summary

• Raises minimum marriage age from 14 to 16 years old in North Carolina, making it unlawful for anyone under 16 to marry.

• Allows persons aged 16-17 to marry only if their partner is no more than 4 years older, requiring either parental consent or a district court order.

• District court authorization for 16-17 year-old marriages requires judicial finding that the underage party can assume marriage responsibilities and that marriage serves their best interest.

• Creates rebuttable presumption that marriage does not serve the underage party's best interest when all living parents oppose the marriage; pregnancy alone does not establish best interest.

• Effective immediately upon passage (August 26, 2021) and applies to all pending or subsequently issued marriage licenses.