Detailed Information on the Age of Consent

[Angel]

Detailed Information on the Age of Consent

There's quite a few charts, etc online that show the age of consent, but they are often outdated and don't tell you who (and if) you're allowed to have sex with if you're UNDER the age of consent.

The following is a comprehensive and detailed list of the age of consent laws in the US states as well as some other countries. All the information is taken directly from the state’s legislation. Hopefully this will clear up any confusion.

Definition of age of consent: The age at which a person is deemed able to consent to sexual activity. This can be complicated in certain areas by things like the type of sexual activity, the sex of the participants, and the possibility that one person could be abusing a position of trust.

What happens if you break these laws and get caught? You could be charged with anything from corruption of a minor (a low level misdemeanor) to statutory rape, which carries the same sentencing as rape.

Close-in-age Exceptions: In some areas there are exceptions to the age of consent laws called Close-In-Age Exceptions. These mean that if you're "close in age" enough, you can legally consent to sexual activity. In Canada, for example the age difference can be up to five years.

Extraterritoriality: If you're in another country or state and the age of consent is lower there you may still be charged according to the laws of your country. This comes from an attempt to combat "child sex tourism".

Sexuality: The age of consent in some areas is higher for homosexual intercourse and/or anal intercourse. The age of consent for anal sex in Canada is 18. This has been declared unconstitutional in Ontario and Quebec.

How does marriage affect age-of-consent laws? If you're legally marriageable, but not of the age of consent the marriage will negate the age of consent laws. In some places there is no age of consent and you're required to be married in order to have sex.

If the older person is in a position of trust (for instance a teacher) there is often a higher AoC.

North America:

Canada: The age of consent is 16.

United States: By state as follows:

Alabama: The age of consent is 16.

Alaska: The age of consent is 18. However someone between the ages of 13 and 17 can have sex with someone who has LESS than a 3-year age difference. Someone who is 18 CANNOT have sex with someone who is under 16.

Arizona: The age of consent is 18. It is not legal to have sex if you are not 18.

Arkansas: The age of consent is 16. Children under the age of 12 may have sexual contact if there is LESS than a 3-year age difference. People aged 12-16 may have sexual contact if there is LESS than a 4-year age difference. For instance 9-11, 13-16.

California: The age of consent is 18. [Further being researched].

Colorado: The age of consent is 17. 15 and 16-year-olds may have sex with people who are LESS than ten years older than them. For instance 15-24. People under the age of 15 can have sex with people who have LESS than a 4-year age difference. For instance 14-11, 15-13.

Connecticut: The age of consent is 16. Children under the age of 13 who are having sexual contact must have an age difference of LESS than 2 years, for instance 12-11. People under the age of 16 can have sex with people who have an age difference OF two years or less (for instance 13-15). If you are a figure of authority, the age is 18.

District of Columbia: The age of consent is 16. People under that age may have sex if the age difference is LESS than 4 years. For instance 15-12.

Delaware: The age of consent is 18. People aged 16-17 can have sex if the partner is under 30 years of age.

Florida: The age of consent is 18. A person aged 16 or 17 can have sex with a person who is younger than 23 (for instance 16-23). It is not legal to have sex if you are not at least 16 years old.

Georgia: The age of consent is 16. It is not legal to have sex if you are not at least 16 years old.

Hawaii: The age of consent is 16. It’s legal to have sex with a person under 16 if there is LESS than a 5-year age difference. For instance 15-19. It is NOT legal to have sex if you are not at least 14 years old.

Idaho: The age of consent is 18. It is not legal to have sex if you are not at least 18 years old.

Illinois: The age of consent is 17. It is not legal to have sex if you are not at least 17 years old. If you are a figure of authority, the age is 18.

Indiana: The age of consent is 16. It is not legal to have sex if you are not at least 16.

Iowa: The age of consent is 16. People aged 14-15 can have sex with people who are LESS THAN 4 years older. For instance 14-17. It is illegal to have sex if you are not at least 14 years old.

Kansas: The age of consent is 16. It is not legal to have sex if you are not at least 16 years old.

Kentucky: The age of consent is 16. It is not legal to have sex if you are not at least 16 years old.

Louisiana: The age of consent is 17. Sex under that age is legal if there is LESS than a 2-year age difference. For instance 17-16.

Maine: The age of consent is 16. People aged 14-15 may have sex with people who are LESS than 5 years older. For instance 14-18.

Maryland: The age of consent is 16. People under that age may have sex with people who have an age difference of LESS than 4 years, for instance 15-13.

Massachusetts – The age of consent is 16. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 16.

Michigan – The age of consent is 16. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 16. If you are a figure of authority, the age is 18.

Minnesota – The age of consent is 16. If you are a figure of authority, the age is 18. If you are under the age of 13, the other person must be no more than 36 months older. In you are 13, 14, or 15; the other person must be no more than 48 months older.

Mississippi - The age of consent is 16. It is illegal to have sex if you are not at least 16.

Missouri – The age of consent is 17. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 17.

Montana – The age of consent is 16. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 16.

Nebraska – The age of consent is 17. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 17.

Nevada - The age of consent is 16. It is illegal to have sex if you are not at least 16.

New Hampshire – The age of consent is 16. If you are a figure of authority, the age of consent is 18. If you are older than 13, but younger than 16 and the age difference is three years or less, it is legal.

New Jersey – The age of consent is 16. If you are the age of 13, 14, or 15 and the age difference is less than 4 years, it is legal.

New Mexico – The age of consent is 17. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 17.

New York – The age of consent is 17. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 17.

North Carolina – The age of consent is 16. If you are a figure of authority, it is 18.

North Dakota – The age of consent is 18. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 18.

Ohio – The age of consent is 16. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 16.

Oklahoma – The age of consent is 16. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 16.

Oregon – The age of consent is 18. If you are older than 12, there is a three year or less age difference, it is legal.

Pennsylvania – The age is consent is 16. If you are 13, 14, or 15, you may have sex if the age difference is four years or less. Having sex with anyone under the age of 13 is illegal.

Rhode Island – The age of consent is 16. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 16.

South Carolina – The age of consent is 16. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 16.

South Dakota – The age of consent is 16. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 16.

Tennessee – The age of consent is 18. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 18.

Texas – The age of consent is 17. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 17.

Utah – The age of consent is 18. If you are 16 or 17 it is legal to have sex if the age difference is ten years or less.

Vermont- The age of consent is 16. If the person is 15 or older and the age difference is four years or less, it is legal.

Virginia – The age of consent is 18. If the person is 15 to 17, they can only have sex with someone 15-17.

Washington – The age of consent is 16. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 16.

West Virginia – The age of consent is 16. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 16.

Wisconsin – The age of consent is 18. It is illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 18.

Wyoming – The age of consent is 16. If the person is under 16 and the age difference is four years or less, it is legal.

Europe:

Andorra: 16

Austria: 14
-Close-In-Age: If the younger person is at least 13, they may consent to sex with somebody who is less than three years older. If the act doesn't involved penetration it is no more than four years provided the yonger one is no younger than 12.

Belarus: 16

Belgium: 16 unless members of the same family. In those situations it is 18.

Bosnia/Herzegovina: 14

Bulgaria: 14

Croatia: 14

Cyprus: 17 for penetration. 13 for "Woman/Boy" for anal intercourse. No limits otherwise.

Czech Republic: 15

Denmark: 15

Estonia: 14

Finland: 16

France: 15

Germany: 16, however in rare cases it can be 14.

Greece: 15 for heterosexual, 17 for homosexual. Ages 15-17 are okay as long as both partners are minors.

Hungary: 14

Iceland: 15

Ireland: 17 for "carnal contact". 15 for "non-carnal contact."

Italy: 14
-Close-In-Age: When the younger person is 13 the older person may be no less than 3 years older.
-Position of Influence: 16

Latvia: 16. 14 for non-vaginal intercourse (applies to same-sex relationships). Exception for those between 14 and 16 for vaginal intercourse/

Lithuania: 14

Luxemburg: 16

Malta: 18

Moldova: Between 14 and 16. There are no law directly dealing with Age of Consent, but it is dealt with within other laws.

Netherlands: 16

Norway:16

Poland: 15

Portugal: 14

Republic of Kosovo: 14

Romania: 15

Russia: 16

Serbia: 14

Slovakia: 15

Sloveniä: 15

Spain: 13 unless deceit is used, otherwise it is 16

Sweden: 15

Switzerland: 16

Turkey: 18

Ukraine: 16

United Kingdom (and dependencies): 16

Vatican State: 12