Any male or female of the age of eighteen years or upwards not under any of the impediments mentioned in Articles 37 and 38, may contract marriage. (54a)
Family Code · Chapter 1. Requisites of Marriage
Legal age for marriage
Current text, as of October 15, 2026
Any male or female of the age of eighteen years or upwards not under any of the impediments mentioned in Articles 37 and 38, may contract marriage. (54a)
Child marriage is a crime
Republic Act No. 11596 (2021) declares marriages involving anyone below eighteen void and makes facilitating or solemnizing them a crime.
Read RA 11596 →Consolidated by Alleba from the text of Executive Order No. 209 (Lawphil), which already includes the changes made by Executive Order No. 227 (1987) before the Code took effect, and the amending Republic Acts in our library. Later amendments made by Presidential Decrees, Batas Pambansa or other executive orders are not included. For information and research only, and not legal advice. For certified copies, refer to the Official Gazette or the issuing agency.