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What is the legal age for marriage in 2022
Time:2025-08-28 Views:523
Article 6 of the "Marriage Law" stipulates that the age of marriage shall not be earlier than 22 years old for men and 20 years old for women. So, currently in China, the minimum age for women to get married is 20 years old. However, for women from ethnic minority areas or those who are female active-duty military personnel, the age for marriage may vary. In addition, considering the actual conditions of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions, local residents are allowed to determine the legal age of marriage in accordance with local regulations.
The age of marriage stipulated in the Marriage Law has universal applicability, but in some special circumstances, the law also allows for exceptional provisions on the age of marriage. For instance, taking into account the multi-ethnic nature of our country, Article 50 of the Marriage Law stipulates: "The people's congress of an ethnic autonomous area has the right to formulate flexible provisions in light of the specific circumstances of ethnic marriage and family in the local area." The legislative bodies of some ethnic autonomous areas in our country have made flexible provisions on the legal age of marriage in the Marriage Law. For instance, in autonomous regions such as Ningxia, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Xizang, as well as some autonomous prefectures and counties, the minimum age for marriage is set at 20 for men and 18 for women. However, these flexible regulations only apply to ethnic minorities and do not apply to the Han people living in the region.
Marriage registration cannot be done by proxy. Both parties applying for marriage must personally register at the marriage registration authority of the civil affairs department at or above the county level. No one else can exercise this civil right on their behalf.
Agency is a civil activity. It is a legal system where an agent accepts the entrustment of the principal, conducts civil activities in the name of the principal, and within the scope of authorization, the principal is responsible for the civil liability arising therefrom. This system is only applicable to acts that do not have a personal nature. The following four activities cannot be handled by an agent:
(1) The expression of intent has a strict personal nature. Such an expression of intent must be made by the individual in person, such as in a will for marriage registration;
(2) Debts of a strict personal nature, such as performance contracts of specific actors;
(3) Acts that the parties have agreed not to act on behalf of;
(4) Illegal acts.
Marriage registration is a civil act of a personal nature with very strict expressions of intent. It involves a series of personal and property relations such as rights and obligations between husband and wife. Such expressions of intent must be made by the parties themselves, and no one else may exercise them on their behalf. If one of the parties applying for marriage is truly unable to attend in person for some reason, they may request the marriage registration authority to register on the spot at the time and place designated by both parties. If both parties register in person, it can also prevent the occurrence of illegal marriages such as arranged, forced, sold or interfered with the freedom of marriage.
1. The maturity of physical and mental development
Everyone has a different development situation. Some people mature mentally quickly, while others do so slowly. Marriage not only involves two individuals but also both families. If one's mind is not yet mature and their attitude towards marriage is not mature, even if they get married, the marriage will not last long.
If the legal age for marriage is set at 22 for men and 20 for women, people's minds will become more mature, they will be able to take responsibility for their decisions, and their concepts of marriage will be more mature. Not only will their marriages be more fulfilling, but society will also be more stable.
2. Social factors
Social factors include politics, culture, people's educational attainment, etc. When the Marriage Law was revised in 1980, it was believed that appropriately raising the legal age could better enable young people to integrate into their lives and improve their work and study levels.
The above content briefly analyzed for everyone the question of what the legal age for marriage is in 2022. Everyone can learn that due to the implementation of "one country, two systems" in our country and the existence of many ethnic minority settlements on the Chinese mainland, the requirements for marriage age have presented various situations. For the average woman on the Chinese mainland, the legal age for marriage is 20 years old. Of course, this is merely the minimum age requirement for marriage registration as stipulated by law, but it does not necessarily fall under the optimal age for marriage. These are all legal common sense that needs to be understood. If you have any other questions to consult, you are welcome to contact Fan Neng Law Firm. Sichuan Faneng Law Firm is dedicated to serving you.