Family
Marriage age equalised at 18 in 2019
The Family Code sets 18 as the marriage age for both sexes after a 2019 amendment removed the lower age for women. Marital property is community property.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Civil registry offices register marriage and agreed divorce; courts handle contested cases.
Governing law
- Family Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan1998, amended 2019
- Law on Protection of Women from Harassment and Violence2019
In practice
The 2019 equalisation of the marriage age at 18 ended a long-criticised distinction. Medical examination before marriage is required. Religious nikah without civil registration remains common and leaves spouses without enforceable property rights, and polygamy is a criminal offence. The 2019 statute on harassment and violence created protection orders, and domestic violence was made a distinct criminal offence in 2023, closing a gap treaty bodies had raised for years. Divorce for couples with minor children requires a court and a reconciliation attempt.