Griffo Supports Bill To End Child Marriage In New York

Senator Joseph Griffo has joined the State Senate in passing legislation that would end child marriage in New York.

The bill would prohibit the marriage of minors younger than 17 and require 17-year-olds to obtain court approval before marrying.

Griffo says in addition to increasing the minimum age for marriage to 17, the bill would put checks in place to ensure that parental consent is not parental coercion.

Current law states that 18 is the minimum age of marriage in New York, but children aged 14 to 17 may still get married with parental consent, along with judicial approval for children aged 14 and 15.

In New York State, at least 3,850 children between the ages of 14 and 18 were legally married between 2000 and 2010, with 84 percent of these marriages involving a young girl wedding an adult man.

Griffo said, "I am glad to support this legislation to protect our children from a coerced commitment that could haunt them the rest of their lives."

The bill has been sent to the Assembly.