Law Office of Joyce Holcomb Highlights New Marriage Laws

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – October 28, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –

The Law Office of Joyce Holcomb, a family law practice in San Bernardino, is highlighting two California laws signed on September 30, 2026, that change marriage rules and domestic violence protections. Assembly Bill 1267 sets a minimum age of 18 for marriage and domestic partnership, and Assembly Bill 2534 treats forced marriage as abuse under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act.

AB 1267, by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, was chaptered as Chapter 850 of the Statutes of 2026, according to the chaptered bill summary. Under prior law, an unmarried person under 18 could marry after obtaining a court order and the written consent of at least one parent or guardian. A person under 18 could also establish a domestic partnership with a court order.

The new law repeals the authorization for a person under 18 to be issued a marriage license or to establish a domestic partnership, and it makes conforming changes. It also repeals the requirement that the State Registrar prepare an annual document on marriage certificates in which one or both parties were minors. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027, according to published reports.

California is the 18th state to prohibit child marriage without exceptions, according to NPR.

AB 2534, by Assemblymember Ash Kalra, was chaptered as Chapter 950 of the Statutes of 2026, according to the Legislature’s bill record. The law includes forced marriage for purposes of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act.

According to the Legislative Counsel’s digest, the law defines forced marriage as a spousal relationship in which one or both parties do not or cannot consent and one or both parties are compelled, through force, fraud, coercion, duress, abuse of power, or coercive control, to enter, attempt to enter, or maintain a marriage, regardless of whether the marriage is legally valid.

If a protective order is sought to protect against a forced marriage, all persons engaged in conduct to arrange, officiate, finance, or facilitate the marriage or attempted marriage may be included in one action as respondents. The law provides that conduct undertaken to compel, prepare for, or facilitate a forced marriage constitutes disturbing the peace of the other party, as specified. It also provides that coercive control includes interfering with, threatening, or attempting to prevent a party or witness from participating in a court proceeding.

The law also requires the Act’s provisions to be liberally construed and authorizes a court to grant relief regardless of whether a marriage has occurred or whether a purported marriage would be legally valid in this state or any other jurisdiction. Because violating a protective order is punishable as a crime, the digest notes that expanding the bases for these orders expands an existing crime.

The Law Office of Joyce Holcomb handles divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence, paternity, spousal support, prenuptial agreements, grandparents’ rights, and modification of judgment matters, among other family law matters. Joyce M. Holcomb is the firm’s partner, and Cassie Sands is an attorney with the firm.

The legal information in this release is based on the Legislative Counsel’s digests and chaptered text of AB 1267 and AB 2534 and published news reports. It is presented for general public awareness and is not legal advice. How the laws apply to a particular situation depends on the facts.

The Law Office of Joyce Holcomb represents clients in family law matters in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

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For more information about Law Office of Joyce Holcomb, contact the company here:

Law Office of Joyce Holcomb
Joyce M. Holcomb
(909) 889-7111
joyce_holcomb@verizon.net
Vanir Tower, 290 North D Street, Suite 902, San Bernardino, CA 92401