California bans marriage under age 18 effective Jan. 1

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1267 on Sept. 30, 2026, requiring people to be 18 to marry, effective Jan. 1. It ends a system with no minimum age that allowed minors to wed with parental consent and judicial approval. Newsom called it a "long overdue measure to protect young Californians and minors."