Ukraine's Parliament Raises Minimum Marriage Age to 16 in New Civil Code Vote

New Legislation Overhauls Marriage Age Requirements

According to Главком: On April 28, Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada approved in its first reading draft law No. 15150, which removes the provision allowing marriage at age 14 from the updated Civil Code. The revised document sets the minimum marriage age at 16. Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk noted that under the old rules, a court could permit marriage at 14 only in cases where the girl was pregnant.

Key Regulatory Shifts

Under the new framework, there is no ban on divorce during pregnancy or within the first year after childbirth. The state also refrains from introducing stricter rules against forced marriage, and there are no expanded grounds for removing children from their families. Adoption laws and fundamental child welfare provisions remain unchanged.

Draft law No. 15150 aims to recodify civil legislation by merging the Civil Code, the Family Code, and the law 'On Private International Law.' The new code will consist of nine books. Ruslan Stefanchuk, one of the bill's sponsors, emphasized that:

“the previous norm was never intended to encourage underage family relationships.”

He added that the change in marriage age is a response to misinterpretations of the earlier rule.

The parliament rejected a motion to extend the timeline for preparing the document for its second reading. Stefanchuk also noted that the bill will undergo 'significant revisions' before the second reading. Provisions regarding engagements and reimbursement of related expenses will be moved into the new Civil Code.

These legal adjustments reflect the Ukrainian parliament's effort to modernize family law in line with current social realities. Setting the marriage age at 16 is expected to reduce risks associated with early unions and strengthen legal safeguards for minors. Further amendments to the bill could also reshape societal norms and practices around marriage and family relations in Ukraine.

As Ukraine updates its marriage laws, it is essential to understand the broader implications for family rights and responsibilities. For instance, recent clarifications from the Justice Ministry regarding the process for a biological father to establish paternity of a child born within marriage highlight the evolving legal landscape. These changes aim to protect parental rights and ensure that children's welfare is prioritized. To learn more about this important aspect of family law, see how the establishment of paternity is being addressed in light of the new regulations.