Minimum age for marriage?

I read a story today about that little Florida girl, Haleigh Cummings, who is still missing and probably dead. I also realized for the first time today that her father married his current wife not long ago. And here's the kicker: she's only 17 years old.

She's not old enough to smoke. She can't buy a beer or go to a casino. But she can get married. Is that a big deal? I say yes, as aa divorce mediator. My clients have so many important things to understand, from taxes to assets to parenting. Even fully-grown clients are often overwhelmed. It's too much to expect a minor to enter into such a monumental legal contract when she's still at an age at which the law doesn't allow her yo enter mist other legal agreements. Something as serious as marriage shouldn't be the exception to that rule.