Indiana law dating minors

Can you get married under 18 in Indiana?

Anyone over 18 can, yes. But what about minors? Is it ever permissible for people under 18 to get married? State law can vary on this issue, so this article is a quick summary of the marriage age requirements in Indiana. Partners who reach the age of majority (18 and above in most states) may marry with relatively few restrictions.

What happens to minors under the age of 18 in Indiana?

Minors under the age of 18 fall under the jurisdiction of Indianas juvenile court. Most minors charged with the above offenses would face delinquency charges (rather than criminal charges) and be tried in juvenile court.

What is the age of consent in Indiana?

The Indiana age of consent is 16. If you are over 18, it is generally illegal to have sexual contact with someone under 16. Even if the minor is over the legal age of consent, the adult could still be in serious trouble in some situations. That being said, not all sexual activity between an adult and a minor is statutory rape.

Is sexting between dating minors a felony in Indiana?

But rather than felony charges, Indiana created a new law—indecent display by youth—that carries misdemeanor penalties for certain consensual sexting between dating minors. Indecent display by youth is a class A misdemeanor.

What is the legal age to get married in Indiana?

Marriage age requirement laws in Indiana only allow 16- and 17-year-olds to get married with approval from a juvenile court judge, but to someone no more than four years older. The following box includes the code section and highlights of Indianas marriage age requirements.

How old do you have to be to get married legally?

In general, an individual can marry as of right 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. The marriage age is commonly the age of majority, though that is not always the case.

How old do you have to be to get married in Mississippi?

This age is set by each state and territory, either by statute or the common law applies. In general, an individual can marry upon 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.

Do state marriage age laws apply to minors?

However, state marriage age requirement laws apply to minors. Some state age limit laws will allow partners with a child (or expecting a child) to get married, but a greater number of states are cracking down on child marriages in effort to prevent young people -- mainly young women -- from being explored and abused.