California Legal Codes and Statutes

§ 265

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

Cite this section

Cal. Pen. Code § 265 (2026)
https://ca.codecond.com/codes/pen/part-1-of-crimes-and-punishments/title-9-of-crimes-against-the-person-involving-sexual-assault-and-crimes-against-public-decency-and-good-morals/chapter-1-rape-abduction-carnal-abuse-of-children-and-seduction/section-265

Other sections in Chapter 1 - Rape, Abduction, Carnal Abuse of Children, and Seduction

§ 261§ 261.5§ 261.6§ 261.7§ 261.9§ 263§ 263.1§ 264§ 264.1§ 264.2…§ 266d§ 266e§ 266f§ 266g§ 266h§ 266i§ 266j§ 266k§ 267§ 269

This content is for reference, learning, and study purposes only. All legal text should be verified against the official California Legislative Information website, which is the authoritative source for California law. Data last processed: February 14, 2026.