Aliso Viejo could become the latest Orange County city to ban child marriage.
A resolution during its Feb. 17 meeting calls on council to end the marriage of anyone younger than 18, without exception.
It’s legal for minors to get married with parental consent and judicial approval in California. Sexual relations between minors and adults are allowed for, which would be illegal without marriage.
“Minors in unwanted or abusive marriages suffer social isolation from their support networks like school, friends and family, which contributes to their poor mental health,” the City of Aliso Viejo resolution states.
The issue of child marriage has previously been addressed in several other Orange County cities.
Fullerton became the most recent Orange County city to adopt a resolution against child marriage last November.
Irvine, Anaheim, Newport Beach, and Yorba Linda passed the same resolution last year.
All of the resolutions passed unanimously.
