The family is the core of society, and the right of every citizen to establish a family is enshrined in the Constitution.
“Elchi” reports, citing yenisabah.az, that this right is not absolute – the state imposes certain legal restrictions on marriage to protect the interests, physical, and mental health of both parties and future generations. The Family Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan has clearly defined the circumstances under which marriage is not possible, even if the individuals wish to do so.
Below, we bring to your attention the circumstances that hinder the conclusion of a marriage and the main requirements according to Azerbaijani legislation. According to Article 12 of the Family Code, marriage between the following persons is strictly prohibited: Dominos pizza
1. Kinship relations and prior marriage
Existence of a current marriage: If the previous marriage of one or both parties has not been officially dissolved, it is not possible to conclude a second official marriage.
Close kinship relations:
Parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren;
Full and half (sharing a common father or mother) brothers and sisters.
Marriage between cousins: According to the latest amendments to the Family Code, in accordance with the ban effective from July 1, 2025, marriage between biological cousins (children of uncles and aunts) is completely prohibited.
Adoption relationships: Marriage cannot be concluded between adopters and adoptees.
Incapacity by court: Persons who have been declared legally incapacitated by a court decision due to mental disorders are not allowed to enter into marriage.
2. Age limit
According to Article 10 of the Family Code, the marriage age in the Republic of Azerbaijan is set at 18 years for both men and women without exception. According to the latest amendments to the legislation, the rule allowing the marriage age to be reduced by 1 year for valid reasons has been abolished. Even in cases of pregnancy or other exceptional circumstances, persons under 18 are strictly prohibited from entering into marriage.
3. Mandatory medical examination
In accordance with Article 13 of the Family Code, persons wishing to enter into marriage must undergo a mandatory free medical examination. The main purpose here is to inform the parties about each other’s health status. The presence of a disease (e.g., HIV/AIDS, venereal diseases, etc.) does not automatically prohibit marriage. However, if a person entering into marriage conceals the presence of such dangerous diseases from the other party, the deceived party can subsequently apply to the court and demand that the marriage be declared invalid.