Earlier this year Delaware enacted House Bill 337 regarding child marriage. Previously, Delaware law allowed minors to marry if a Judge of the Family Court signed an order allowing the minor to marry. In rendering a decision the Judge was required to consider the best interest of the minor, the wishes of the minor and the minor’s parents/guardians, the mental and physical health of the individuals to be married, the criminal history of the individuals to be married, and whether the proposed marriage would violate any Delaware laws. According to an article published by NPR, more than 200 minors got married between 2000 and 2017. House Bill 337, was signed into law earlier this year, making Delaware (already known as the First State) the first state in the United States to ban child marriage without exception.
