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California Penal Code

§ 265

PEN § 265 Effective Jan 1, 2026Title 9 · Part 1 · Ch. 1

Statute text

View on leginfo.ca.gov
(a)A person who compels another person, unlawfully, against their will, and by force, menace, or duress, to marry them or to marry another person shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
(b)This section shall be applied equally regardless of the age of the victim of a forced marriage at the time of the forced marriage.

Legislative history

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 633, Sec. 3. (AB 1134) Effective January 1, 2026.

Source: California Penal Code § 265 from the California Legislative Information (public record). DecisionDepot is for informational use only and is not legal advice — verify against the official source before relying on this text.