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Marriage in the United States

Marriage in the United States is a legal, social, and religious institution. The marriage age is set by each state and territory, either by statute or the common law applies. An individual may marry without parental consent or other authorization on reaching 18 years of age in all states except in Nebraska (where the general marriage age is 19) and Mississippi (where the general marriage age is 21.) In Puerto Rico the general marriage age is also 21. In all these jurisdictions, these are also the ages of majority. In Alabama, however, the age of majority is 19, while the general marriage age is 18. Most states also set a lower age at which underage persons are able to marry with parental or judicial consent. Marriages where one partner is less than 18 years of age are commonly referred to as child or underage marriages.

Marriage laws have changed considerably over time, including the removal of bans on interracial marriage and same-sex marriage. In 2009, there were 2,077,000 marriages, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.[needs update][1] The median age for the first marriage has increased in recent years.[2] The median age in the early 1970s was 23 for men and 21 for women; and it rose to 28 for men and 26 for women by 2009[3] and by 2017, it was 29.5 for men and 27.4 for women.[4]

Marriages vary considerably in terms of religion, socioeconomic status, age, commitment, and so forth.[5][6] Reasons for marrying may include a desire to have children, love, or economic security.[7] Marriage has been in some instances used for the sole purpose of gaining a green card and/or facilitating full citizenship; the Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986 are among laws that can be used to set aside such marriages, and a marriage visa can be obtained in advance of entry of the non-national where there is a long-term, committed relationship demonstrable.[8] In 2003, 184,741 immigrants were admitted as spouses of US citizens.[9]

Marriages can be terminated by annulment, divorce or death of a spouse. Divorce (known as dissolution of marriage in some states) laws vary by state, and address issues such as how the two spouses bifurcate their property, how children will be cared for, and support obligations of one spouse toward the other. Since the late 1960s, divorce has become more prevalent. Divorce rates in 2005 were four times the divorce rates in 1955, and a quarter of children less than 16 years old were raised by a stepparent.[10] Divorce rates peaked in 1979, and had dropped by more than a third by the early 2020s.[11] In 2009, it was found that marriages that end in divorce lasted for a median of 8 years.[12] As a rough rule, marriage has more legal ramifications than other types of bonds between consenting adults. A civil union is "a formal union between two people of the same or of different genders which results in, but falls short of, marriage-like rights and obligations," according to one view.[13] Domestic partnerships are a version of civil unions. Registration and recognition are functions of states, localities, or employers; such unions may be available to couples of the same sex and, sometimes, opposite sex.[14] Cohabitation to a certain extent is an expectation of marriage, in which context it means living together, a term also applied to when two unmarried people live together and have an intimate or loving relationship.[15]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference U.S. Census - Marriages and Divorces Number and Rate by State: 1990 to 2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference census was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference ROBIN MARANTZ HENIG was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Geiger, Abigail; Livingston, Gretchen (February 13, 2018). "8 facts about love and marriage in America". Pew Research. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Marriage 101: An Integrated Academic and Experiential Undergraduate Marriage Education Course was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Our Social World was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference To Marry or Not to Marry: A Choice was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference uscis3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Statistical Abstract of the United ... - Census Bureau - Google Books was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Brian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ National Center for Family & Marriage Research. "Divorce Rate in the U.S.: Geographic Variation, 2022". Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  12. ^ "Number, Timing, and Duration of Marriages and Divorces: 2009" (PDF). Census.gov. May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2021.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference duhaime was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference domestic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference cohabitation was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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