In India, the minimum age for court marriage is clearly defined under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, which governs civil marriages regardless of religion. Minimum Age for Court Marriage: Male (Boy): Must be at least 21 years old Female (Girl): Must be at least 18 years old Legal Reference: Under Section 4(c) of the Special Marriage Act, 1954, the law states that: “The male has completed the age of twenty-one years and the female the age of eighteen years.” This age requirement applies across all religions, communities, and states for court marriages in India. Other Conditions for Court Marriage (Besides Age): 1. Both parties must be unmarried at the time of marriage (or legally divorced/widowed). 2. They must be of sound mind and capable of giving valid consent. 3. They must not be in a prohibited relationship (like close blood relatives), unless custom allows. 4. Notice of intended marriage must be filed 30 days in advance at the Marriage Registrar’s office. Legal Consequences of Underage Marriage: A court marriage where either party is underage is not legally valid. It can be challenged or annulled in court. Encouraging or performing child marriage is punishable under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. Summary: Boy must be at least 21 years old Girl must be at least 18 years old These age limits are strictly enforced for all court marriages in India.

Dear Client, In India, the Special Marriage Act, 1954, establishes minimum age restrictions for court marriages, which are as follows: Male: Minimum age is 21. Female: Minimum age is 18. Both parties must also be of sound mind, freely consent to the marriage, and must not have a spouse (these age restrictions are very strictly observed, there are no legal marriages below these ages). Proof of age is also needed (usually a certified copy of a birth certificate/adhaar card/passport) at the time of registration. I hope this answer helps. For any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you.