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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78040</law_id><section_number>20-45.1</section_number><catch_line>Void and voidable marriages</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>20-89.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="20">Domestic Relations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Unlawful Marriages Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> All marriages that are prohibited by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Certain marriages prohibited" href="/20-38.1/">20-38.1</a> are void. <a id="paragraph-279784" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-45.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> All marriages solemnized when either of the parties lacked capacity to consent to the marriage at the time the marriage was solemnized, because of <span class="dictionary">mental incapacity</span> or infirmity, shall be void from the time they shall be so declared by a <span class="dictionary">decree</span> of divorce or nullity. <a id="paragraph-279785" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-45.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> All marriages solemnized on or after (i) July 1, 2016, when either or both of the parties were, at the time of the solemnization, under the age of 18 and have not been emancipated as required by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Minimum age of marriage" href="/20-48/">20-48</a> or (ii) July 1, 2024, when either or both of the parties were, at the time of solemnization, under the age of 18 shall be void from the time they shall be so declared by a <span class="dictionary">decree</span> of divorce or nullity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this section shall not apply to a lawful marriage entered in another state or country prior to the parties being domiciled in the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-279786" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-45.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1975, c. 644; 2016, cc. 457, 543; 2024, c. 737.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
