Jun 25, 2018

underage marriage banned in New Jersey

A little while back the State of New Jersey was considering a law that would ban all marriages under the age of 18. This is a trend in the USA, meant to protect underage women from being taken advantage of. Last year the governor decided to not sign the new law because it did not include an exception for religious reasons, or with parental consent. The governor of New Jersey has now decided to sign on the law, with no exceptions. It is now illegal in new Jersey to get married under the age of 18. Full Stop. No exceptions.
sources: Hamodia, Behadrei, Washington Post

Considering that so far only two states have adopted this law with no exceptions, the solution it seems, for people wanting to marry under 18, will be to go to a nearby state, such as New York or Pennsylvania... though they are the closest states to NJ - I do not include Delaware as that is the other state banning such marriages with no exceptions - it is still a far drive and would be difficult for many to make weddings so far away and to expect guests to participate.. 

I expect the local and national Orthodox Jewish, and probably some Christian and Muslim, organizations to lobby hard to get some religious exception added to the law.




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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 25, 2018 2:23 PM

    I don't understand the hubbub. So the couple will live together after a religious ceremony (are there non-Jews in NJ that regularly perform underage marriages?), and then register a civil marriage in a few years. Or, hop over to a nearby state when it's convenient.

    Is this because it's statutory rape unless the couple is legally married? I guess that might be an issue.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tal BenscharJune 25, 2018 7:06 PM

    Is this because it's statutory rape unless the couple is legally married?

    That's part of what is so outrageous about this. In NJ, at 16 you are old enough to consent to sexual relations, but not marriage.

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  3. AnonymousJune 26, 2018 4:32 AM

    Well said, Tal. The new governor in the liberal state of NJ is a far leftist. For the very religious Jews, it doesn't matter as long as they are religiously married. They can have a civil marriage later.

    ReplyDelete
  4. NachumJune 27, 2018 4:00 PM

    Probably once again it's Muslims ruining it for civil society...

    ReplyDelete