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Measure to Bar Marriage Under 18 in Delaware

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DOVER, Del. (AP) - State lawmakers have introduced legislation prohibiting anyone under 18 from getting married.

Under current law, a person under 18 in Delaware can marry with the consent of a parent or guardian, and with the consent of a Family Court judge.

The bill introduced Tuesday would ban marriage for anyone under 18, with no exceptions.

Rep. Kim Williams, a Newport-area Democrat and chief sponsor of the measure, says she thinks children under 18 are not mature enough to enter a binding contract such as marriage, even with parental consent.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.