SC lawmakers eye raising legal age to marry to 18
Emily Bohatch, The State (Columbia, S.C.)
Apr. 28—COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina bill that would require brides and grooms to be legal adults to get married took its first steps in the state Senate Wednesday.
A bipartisan panel of lawmakers voted unanimously to advance the bill, which would raise the legal age to get married from 16 to 18 across the state. The bill would allow no exceptions, including if a 16 or 17 year old girl was pregnant.
Under current South Carolina law, 16 or 17-year-olds can get married if they have permission from their parents or guardians. If a girl is pregnant, the father of the child can get married without parental permission, but the girl still needs permission from her parents, according to the S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center.