Sen. Bradley files bill in North Carolina Senate to raise marriage age to 18

A new bill filed by State Sen. Bradley seeks to establish 18 as the minimum lawful marriage age in North Carolina, removing previous exceptions for minors, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 452 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘End Child Marriage.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill mandates that individuals must be at least 18 years old to marry lawfully in North Carolina, effective Oct. 1, 2025. It eliminates the provision allowing individuals aged 16 and 17 to marry, provided they have a court order and are marrying someone no more than four years older. The bill removes previous conditions that allowed minors to marry with parental consent or through other legal custodians. Additionally, the bill specifies that marriages involving individuals under 16 years of age are unlawful. Existing void and voidable conditions, such as marriages between certain relatives or under false pretenses, are maintained. It also details procedures for annulling fraudulent marriages and outlines penalties for unlawfully issuing marriage licenses.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Lisa Grafstein proposed the most bills (45) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Bradley graduated from Hollins University in 1995 with a BA.

Bradley, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2025 to represent the state’s 42nd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Rachel Hunt.