In China, the legal age of marriage for men is not earlier than 22 years old, and that for women is not earlier than 20 years old. According to the Civil Code of China, if a party applies for marriage before the legal age for marriage, the Civil Affairs Bureau of China will refuse to apply for marriage registration.
If both parties live together privately and live in the name of husband and wife, even if a factual marriage is formed, it is also invalid marriage, and the parties have no rights and obligations of husband and wife from the beginning.
If both parties have children during the period of cohabitation, they have the obligation to support and educate the children, and bear the child support costs, and also enjoy the right to visit.
At the same time, marriage is prohibited by law:
（1） Direct blood relatives and collateral blood relatives within three generations;
（2） Suffering from a disease that is medically considered unfit for marriage.
Circumstances of invalid marriage:
（1） Bigamy;
（2） Having relatives who are prohibited from marriage;
（3） Having contracted a disease that is medically considered unfit for marriage before marriage and has not been cured after marriage;
（4） Under the legal age of marriage.
Consequences of invalid marriage:
An invalid or annulled marriage shall be null and void from the beginning. The parties concerned do not have the rights and obligations of husband and wife. The property acquired during the period of cohabitation shall be disposed of by the parties through agreement; If no agreement is reached, the people's court shall make a judgment in accordance with the principle of caring for the innocent party. The property disposal of invalid marriage caused by bigamy shall not infringe upon the property rights and interests of the parties to a lawful marriage. The provisions of this Law concerning parents and children shall apply to the children born to the parties concerned.
Legal basis
Article 1047 [Legal age for marriage] of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China, the age for marriage shall not be earlier than 22 for men and 20 for women.
