This public letter was contributed by San Benito County Clerk, Francisco Diaz. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. Lea este artículo en español aqui.
Dear Residents,
As your County Clerk/Commissioner of Civil Marriages, my highest duty is to protect the integrity of the families we serve and to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our community. It is with a deep sense of responsibility and support that I write to address he step forward for our state: the signing into law of Assembly Bill 1267, “banning child marriage”.
Authored by Santa Cruz Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, AB 1267 definitively establishes the minimum age for marriage in California at 18 years old, with absolutely no exceptions.
For years, loopholes in state law permitted minors to be entered into marriage under specific conditions. In practice, however, these exceptions too often left young people, predominantly young girls, exposed to coercion, manipulation, and situations they were developmentally and legally unequipped to navigate, leaving them vulnerable to severe abuse and human trafficking. This landmark legislation helps prevent minors from being entered into marriage unwillingly or when pressured by external circumstances.
In past instances, clerk deputies in our office have stepped in and denied marriage applications when there has been evident concern that a minor was being coerced, or when elderly individuals were being taken advantage of. In those critical situations, our policy has been clear: the marriage is halted, and when necessary, local law enforcement is immediately notified.
While no single statute can eliminate the wrong, this law provides our office and local authorities with an essential, additional tool. It removes ambiguity, closes dangerous loopholes, and strengthens our ability to protect our community and its most vulnerable populations from being exploited.
Protecting our youth and ensuring that every marriage entered into within San Benito County is a willing, fully informed union is a commitment we all share. I want to thank our state leaders for taking definitive action, and the advocates and survivors whose courage brought this forward.
Sincerely,
Francisco Diaz
Commissioner of Civil Marriages / County Clerk-Recorder
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