The minimum legal age for marriage in Germany

Since 2017, there is a new German law: if you are not yet 18 years old, you are not allowed to get married. There is no exception to this law. It does not matter what your parents say, or whether you have German citizenship. Nobody is allowed to get married in Germany, if they are younger than 18.

Religious or traditional marriages are also not allowed if you are not yet 18 years old. If your family is planning your marriage or engagement and invites guests for this event, this breaks the law. They have to pay money as punishment. It is even possible that your parents have to leave Germany as a result. This is why it is better to talk to your parents early on. Tell them that marriage is not allowed in Germany, if you are younger than 18. You can get help for this difficult conversation, for example, from a counselling center. Here is a list of counselling centers where you can reach women who will help you.

Did you already get married? If yes, continue reading!