Whether you're wondering if you're eligible for marriage or trying to end one, or maybe even trying to figure out if your marriage was legal in the first place, learning about marriage annulments and what kind of marriages are prohibited can help. The legal proceedings regarding marriage generally have strict rules, which can vary from state to state. Here's a brief summary of annulment and prohibited marriage laws in Maryland.
Annulments and Prohibited Marriages
Many of us dream about the day we'll get married, but not union between two people is allowed, and each state has its own set of annulment and prohibited marriage laws that prohibit marriage in certain circumstances. Most of Maryland's laws, for example, focus on the age of consent, which is 18 with a few exceptions.
Annulment Laws in Maryland
Annulment and prohibited marriage statutes in Maryland are highlighted in the chart below.
| Code Sections | Md. Fam. §2-201, 2-202, 5-202, 2-301 |
| Grounds for Annulment | - |
| Time Limits for Obtaining Annulment | - |
| Legitimacy of Children | Children of annulled or void marriages are legitimate. |
| Prohibited Marriages | Those within three degrees of lineal consanguinity or other degrees of affinity; individuals 16 or 17 years old, unless parental consent given or woman to be married is pregnant or has given birth; individuals 15 years old, unless parental consent given and woman to be married is pregnant or has given birth; individuals under 15 years old |
Same-Sex Marriage in Maryland
In 2012, Maryland became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote. A law was passed by Maryland's General Assembly allowing same-sex couples to marry, and 52.4% of voters approved a same-sex referendum. Maryland's same-sex marriage law went into effect on January 1, 2013. Maryland has also recognized out-of-state same-sex marriages since 2012.
In 2015, the Supreme Court's Obergefell v. Hodges decision extended same-sex marriage and recognition of out-of-state same-sex marriages to all 50 states. You can visit FindLaw's Same-Sex Marriage section and see the list of states that allow same-sex marriage for more updates on the latest same-sex marriage developments.
Related Resources for Maryland Annulment and Prohibited Marriage Laws
Whether you're wondering if you can get married, making the decision to end a marriage, or questioning whether or not your marriage was legal to begin with, marriage law can be complicated. If you would like legal assistance with a marriage case, you can contact Maryland divorce attorney. You can also visit FindLaw's sections on Annulment, Divorce, and Maryland Family Law for more articles and resources on this topic.
