WEBVTT

00:00.110 --> 00:03.990
Hi, my name is Stephanie Prieto. I'm an attorney here at the Navas law firm and today

00:03.990 --> 00:06.710
We're going to be talking about the age of consent in California

00:12.590 --> 00:20.250
The age of consent in California is 18. That means that the state of California does not legally recognize you as having the right to

00:20.250 --> 00:23.550
Consent to sexual activity until you turn 18

00:24.270 --> 00:30.470
Anyone that engages in sexual activity with someone under 18 can be charged with

00:30.470 --> 00:38.510
Engaging inappropriately with that minor or additionally if intercourse occurs that person can be charged with statutory rape

00:38.510 --> 00:45.970
One very important thing to note is that even if the minor engages in this activity willingly or if they even

00:46.670 --> 00:54.470
Initiated the sexual activity that does not exclude the fact that they needed to have been 18 years of age to consent to that activity

00:55.070 --> 01:05.970
You may have heard of Romeo and Juliet laws that exist in various other states and that essentially allows for leniency in cases where there might have been a close to age minor

01:06.790 --> 01:15.310
That engaged in activity with another minor and in that instance or were above the age of teen in those instances

01:15.310 --> 01:17.730
There is some sort of leniency that is applied

01:19.070 --> 01:26.630
That does not exist in California and therefore it is very important to know the age of your partner before engaging in

01:26.630 --> 01:30.030
Sexual activity now there is one exception in California

01:30.030 --> 01:34.830
And that is if the minor is legally married to that person

01:34.830 --> 01:41.370
That is the one exception under the penal code that allows for a minor to have engaged in

01:41.370 --> 01:47.050
Any sexual activity with someone older than them. It's also important to note that in California

01:47.050 --> 01:51.730
There is no minimum age for marriage. There is the ability for the parent

01:51.730 --> 01:56.190
To consent or the guardian to consent for that minor to be married

01:56.190 --> 02:00.470
If you have any other questions or questions in regards to this topic

02:00.470 --> 02:03.530
Please don't hesitate to give us a call here at the Neva's law firm