Chap. 299.—An ACT to amend and re-enact Section 5090 of the Code of Virginia

as amended, relating to age of consent for marriage, doctor’s certificate, e
cetera. [fH B 291

Approved March 26, 1946

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That section fifty hundred ninety of the Code of Virginia, a:
amended, be amended and re-enacted, as follows:

Section 5090. The age of consent for marriage—The minimum
age at which minors may marry, with consent of the parent or guardian.
shall be eighteen for the male and sixteen for the female. Provided.
however, that in case of the pregnancy of a female by a male, either of
whom is under age of consent, the clerk authorized to issue marriage li-
censes in the county or city wherein the female resides, shall issue proper
marriage license with the consent of the parent or guardian of the person
or persons under the age of consent only upon presentation of a doctor’s
certificate showing he has examined the female and that she is pregnant,
or has been pregnant within nine months previous to such examination.
which certificate shall be filed by the clerk, and such marriage consum-
mated under such circumstances shall be valid.

If any such person under the age of consent be a ward of the State
by virtue of having been adjudicated a delinquent, dependent, or neglected
child, instead of the consent of the parent or natural guardian there shall
be required the consent of the judge or justice having jurisdiction to con-
trol the custody of such person; or, if such person so adjudicated shall
have been committed to the State Board of Public Welfare or to any so-
ciety, association, or institution approved by it for this purpose, such
consent shall be given by some person thereto authorized by the Com-
missioner of Public Welfare, or by the principal executive officer of such
society, association, or institution, as the case may be.

Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent clerks from
issuing a marriage license under circumstances mentioned in section
forty-four hundred fourteen of the Code of Virginia, or to prevent per-
sons under circumstances mentioned therein from marrying.