Arkansas Marriage Laws | § 9-11-804

Arkansas Code Annotated 9-11-804

Content of declaration of intent.

(a) A declaration of intent to contract a covenant marriage shall contain all of the following: (1) A recitation signed by both parties to the following effect: “A COVENANT MARRIAGE We do solemnly declare that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman who agree to live together as husband and wife for so long as they both may live. We have chosen each other carefully and disclosed to one another everything which could adversely affect the decision to enter into this marriage. We have received authorized counseling on the nature, purposes, and responsibilities of marriage. We have read the Covenant Marriage Act of 2001, and we understand that a covenant marriage is for life. If we experience marital difficulties, we commit ourselves to take all reasonable efforts to preserve our marriage, including marital counseling. With full knowledge of what this commitment means, we do hereby declare that our marriage will be bound by Arkansas law on covenant marriages, and we promise to love, honor, and care for one another as husband and wife for the rest of our lives.”; (2) An affidavit by the parties that they have received authorized counseling that shall include a discussion of the seriousness of covenant marriage, communication of the fact that a covenant marriage is a commitment for life, a discussion of the obligation to seek marital counseling in times of marital difficulties, and a discussion of the exclusive grounds for legally terminating a covenant marriage by divorce; (3) An attestation, signed by the counselor and attached to or included in the parties' affidavit, confirming that the parties received authorized counseling as to the nature and purpose of the marriage and the grounds for termination of the marriage and an acknowledgment that the counselor provided to the parties the informational pamphlet developed and promulgated by the Administrative Office of the Courts under this subchapter that provides a full explanation of the terms and conditions of a covenant marriage; and (4) (A) The signature of both parties witnessed by a notary. (B) If one (1) of the parties is a minor, or both are minors, the written consent or authorization of those persons required under this chapter to consent to or authorize the marriage of minors. (b) The declaration shall consist of two (2) separate documents: (1) The recitation as set out in subdivision (a)(1) of this section; and (2) The affidavit with the attestation either included within or attached to the document. (c) The recitation, affidavit, and attestation shall be filed as provided in § 9-11-803(b).

(Acts 2001, No. 1486, § 5; Acts 2011, No. 793, § 3.)

Back to Arkansas Marriage Laws

More Arkansas Marriage Laws

§ 9-11-213 Persons who may solemnize marriages.
§ 9-11-101 Marriage a civil contract — Consent of parties.
§ 9-11-103 Minimum age — Exception.
§ 9-11-104 Minimum age — Lack of parental consent or misrepresentation of age — Annulment.
§ 9-11-106 Incestuous marriages — Penalties for entering into or solemnizing.
§ 9-11-107 Validity of foreign marriages.
§ 9-11-108 Presumption of spouse's death — Validity of subsequent marriage.
§ 9-11-109 Validity of same-sex marriages.
§ 9-11-202 Form of license.
§ 9-11-204 Issuance of license unlawfully — Penalty.
§ 9-11-206 Clerk's fees.
§ 9-11-207 Applicants for marriage licenses to be sober.
§ 9-11-208 License not issued to persons of the same sex.
§ 9-11-215 Marriage ceremony.
§ 9-11-210 Bond of applicant.
§ 9-11-212 Application without other's consent — Penalties — Damages.
§ 9-11-214 Recordation of credentials of clerical character.
§ 9-11-217 Failure to sign and return license at time of marriage — Penalty.
§ 9-11-218 Return of executed license to clerk — Effect on bond.
§ 9-11-219 False return or record — Penalty.
§ 9-11-221 Certified copies of record as evidence.
§ 9-11-301 Execution of contract.
§ 9-11-302 Acknowledgment or proof.
§ 9-11-801 Title.
§ 9-11-304 Effect of unrecorded contract.
§ 9-11-305 Contract or copy as evidence — Conclusiveness.
§ 9-11-701 Persons acting for clerk.
§ 9-11-702 Marriages performed by mayors.
§ 9-11-703 Recordation of credentials of clerical character — Applicability of § 9-11-214.
§ 9-11-704 Marriages solemnized out of county.
§ 9-11-706 Marriage before entry of divorce decree.
§ 9-11-705 Marriages solemnized by municipal court judges.
§ 9-11-803 Covenant marriage.
§ 9-11-805 Form of affidavit.
§ 9-11-806 Other applicable rules.
§ 9-11-809 Suit against spouse — Separation.
§ 9-11-810 Effects of separation.
§ 9-11-811 Informational pamphlet.
§ 9-11-211 Military personnel — Waiver of certain license requirements — Proceedings.
§ 9-11-201 Licenses required.
§ 9-11-216 Solemnization contrary to law — Penalty.
§ 9-11-203 Issuance by clerks.
§ 9-11-102 Minimum age — Parental consent — Definition.
§ 9-11-802 Definitions.
§ 9-11-105 Marriage of underage parties voidable.
§ 9-11-209 Proof of age — Parental consent.
§ 9-11-807 Applicability to already married couples.
§ 9-11-205 Notice of intention to wed — Noncompliance, penalties, and effect.
§ 9-11-220 Duty of clerk on return of license — Issuance of certificate.
§ 9-11-303 Recordation — Effect.
§ 9-11-804 Content of declaration of intent.
§ 9-11-808 Divorce or separation.