183 "Marriage Laws" Category Articles Page 8

Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled that Israeli couples are allowed to marry using Utah County’s online marriage services, and that these civil marriages must be legally recognized. Learn more about the ruling and how to get married online via Utah County’s remote marriage portal.

Learn how HB878 and 2019’s paused anti-online ordination law work together in an ongoing attack against marriage equality in Tennessee. These bills would allow a person to refuse to solemnize (conduct) a marriage they object to based on their ‘conscience or religious beliefs,’ and make it illegal for an officiant ordained online to perform marriage. If passed, it will be easier for clerks and officiants to discriminate against same-sex, LGBTQ+, interfaith, and interracial couples in TN. (House Bill 878 / 2023 ; HB0213 / 2019)

Town and City Clerks in New York will soon be able to issue a one-day marriage officiant permit to anyone wanting to perform a single wedding ceremony in the state. Learn more about how to apply, how much a one-day officiant license costs, and more. (NY A02901 / S02234 ; 2023)

A bill to ban underage marriages in West Virginia was thought to have died in committee following a 9-8 vote to reject on Wednesday, but was revived for a second reading in the Senate on Thursday night. Learn about HB3018, which would raise the minimum age to marry in WV to 18 years old, with no exceptions for minors. (Del. Kayla Young; Sen. Charles Trump; House Bill 3018 ; 2023)

Learn what HB878 might mean for the future of marriage equality in Tennessee. The bill, which recently passed the House, would allow a person to refuse to solemnize (conduct) a marriage they object to based on their ‘conscience or religious beliefs.’ Opponents believe the bill would make it easier for clerks and officiants to discriminate against same-sex, LGBTQ+, interfaith, and interracial couples in TN. (House Bill 878 / 2023)

Vermont House Bill 148, titled 'An Act to Ban Child Marriage,' was passed by House on March 2nd and now heads to the Senate. The bill, which would raise the legal minimum age to marry in the state to 18 years old, is sponsored by Representatives Carol Ode, Mollie Burke, Tiffany Bluemle, and Sara Coffey. (VT H.148 2023)

The minimum age to marry in Wyoming is now 18 years old, with some legal exceptions for 16 and 17 year olds. Gov. Mark Gordon signed House Bill 7 (HB0007) into law last week, after multiple attempts by lawmakers over the years to raise the legal age of consent in the state. The new law is effective immediately.

Learn about proposed marriage legislation around the country, including important amendments to same-sex marriage bans, interracial marriage laws, the minimum age to marry, who can legally solemnize marriage and officiate weddings, covenant marriage licenses, common law marriage, remote / virtual marriage services, penalties for refusing marriage services to LGBTQ+ couples, remarriage, marriage waiting periods, and more.

Rumors are flying that Kanye West and Bianca Censori were married in a secret surprise wedding, but the celebrity couple haven't applied for or filed a marriage certificate or marriage license. Learn what this means for Ye and Bianca's supposed marriage, what's required for a legally binding ceremony, what a commitment ceremony is, and how to avoid the same paperwork mistake while planning your own wedding.

Learn about the history of the marriage license and common law marriage in the U.S., from ancient rituals like handfasting, through the Middle Ages, to modern marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples.

A short introduction to informal and common law marriage, including a simple definition, which states honor common law marriages, guidelines for cohabitation (living together), having a wedding, vow renewal, or commitment ceremony, and advice for wedding officiants who are asked to officiate a ceremony without a marriage license.

Will lawmakers in South Carolina pass legislation to remove the 24-hour waiting period to marry in the state? Read about proposed changes to the marriage license application process in the state and Senate Bill 283 (SB 0283), prefiled for the 2023-2024 session.

Will lawmakers in SC amend the state’s marriage license application process to limit legal grounds for divorce? Learn about the proposed Religious Freedom of Marriage Act, House Bill 3488, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Beach, and the impacts it might have on South Carolina marriage laws. (HB 3488, prefiled for the 2023-2024 session)

Lawmakers in Virginia and Texas propose new legislation in 2023 to protect LGBTQ+ couples and families by repealing same-sex marriage bans from the states’ constitutions. Virginia House Joint Resolution 460 (VA HJR460) and Texas Senate Joint Resolution 15 (TX SJR15)

Pre-filed legislation in Wyoming could raise the legal age of consent to marry to 18 years old in 2023, with exceptions for 16 and 17 year olds with permission from a guardian and judge. Read about the proposed change to restrict child marriage, and other states that have recently limited underage marriages. (Wyoming House Bill 7)