New legislation could end North Carolina as a “Child Bride Destination”
- North Carolina lawmakers are nearing a passage of a bill that could help dampen the state’s appeal as the state to bring child brides
- In the proposed legislation, the minimum marriage age would increase from age 14 to 16 and limit the age difference between the child and their spouse to 4 years
- Under current North Carolina law, children as young as 14 can get married if they become pregnant and if a judge allows it but children can wed as young as 16 with parental permission
