1,450. A Minor Accepting Kiddushin

Hilchos Ishus 3:13

If a girl under the age of majority accepts kiddushin without her father’s consent, marriage is not effected, even if the father subsequently consents. If she is widowed or divorced after such a non-effective kiddushin, she is not prohibited to marry a kohein. Both the girl and her father can prevent marriage from being effected. This marriage does not take effect regardless of whether the man gave her kiddushin in her father’s presence or not.

Hilchos Ishus 3:14

If there is doubt as to whether or not a girl is a bogeres (mature), then whether her father gave her in marriage without her consent, or whether she accepted kiddushin without her father’s consent, there is a doubt as to whether or not marriage has been effected. Therefore, in order to marry someone else, she would require a get to resolve the doubt. A man can appoint an agent to consecrate a wife for him – either a specific woman of his designation or he can empower the agent to consecrate any woman. Similarly, a woman over the age of majority can appoint an agent to accept kiddushin for her – either from a specific man or she can empower the agent to accept kiddushin from any man. A father may likewise appoint an agent to accept kiddushin for his minor daughter; he may also tell his minor daughter to go accept kiddushin for herself.