Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland

16 year old pregnant by older man

My girlfriend is 16 yrs old, and I'm 41 yrs old. We just found out thats she pregnant and we want to get married. Its my understanding that she dont need parental consent in maryland since shes pregnant but we do need a doctors verification of the pregnancy is this correct or is there more to it than that? Secondly once were married is there anything her parents can do about it? Is there any other legal issues that we should be concerned about? In 14 months she will be 18 yrs old so we dont want to go get married and then the state come in and charge either one of us with anything,we are in love and we just want this to go smoothly and quietly so we can get ready to have a baby.


Asked on 12/21/05, 10:16 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Sher Wagshal and Sher

Re: 16 year old pregnant by older man

You need to present the clerk issuing the license with a certificate from a licensed physician that states that he/she has examined your fiance and certifies that she is pregnant (or has given birth). After that, there are no subsequent legal ramifications. If your fiance was under 14 when you consummated the relationship, that would constitute rape in the second degree (i.e., statutory rape).

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Answered on 12/22/05, 10:09 am


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