Louisiana Marriage Laws | § 9:273

Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:273

Covenant marriage; contents 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 premarital counseling on the nature, purposes, and responsibilities of marriage. We have read the Covenant Marriage Act, 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 Louisiana 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)(a) An affidavit by the parties attesting they have received premarital counseling from a priest, minister, rabbi, clerk of the Religious Society of Friends, any clergyman of any religious sect, or a professional marriage counselor, which counseling 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 that they have received and read the informational pamphlet developed and promulgated by the office of the attorney general entitled "Covenant Marriage Act" which provides a full explanation of the terms and conditions of a covenant marriage. (b) An attestation, signed by the counselor and attached to or included in the parties' affidavit, confirming that the parties were counseled as to the nature and purpose of the marriage. (3)(a) The signature of both parties witnessed by a notary. (b) If one or both of the parties are minors, the written consent or authorization of those persons required under the Children's Code to consent to or authorize the marriage of minors. B. The declaration shall contain two separate documents, the recitation and the affidavit, the latter of which shall include the attestation either included therein or attached thereto. The recitation shall be prepared in duplicate originals, one of which shall be retained by the parties and the other, together with the affidavit and attestation, shall be filed as provided in R.S. 9:272(B).

Acts 1997, No. 1380, §3; Acts 1999, No. 1298, §1.

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More Louisiana Marriage Laws

§ 9:202 Authority to perform marriage ceremony
§ 9:223 Form
§ 9:211 Relations of the fourth degree
§ 9:221 Authority to issue marriage license
§ 9:201 Definition
§ 9:204 Officiant other than judge; registration
§ 9:205 Officiant to require marriage license
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§ 9:227 Certified copy unavailable; other proof
§ 9:228 Same; court order waiving birth certificate
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§ 9:235 Valid for thirty days
§ 9:236 Reissuance
§ 9:226 Certified copy of birth certificate; translation to English
§ 9:241 Premature ceremony prohibited
§ 9:244 Witnesses required
§ 9:242 Waiver of delay
§ 9:243 Penalty
§ 9:245 Marriage certificate
§ 9:251 Consolidated form
§ 9:252 Duplicate records of marriage licenses issued; preservation; filing of duplicate copy with state division of vital records; penalty for failure to file
§ 9:297 Decisionmaking in interest of family
§ 9:255 Tabulation of marriage statistics; annual report
§ 9:256 Penalties
§ 9:261 Opposition to marriage
§ 9:262 Hearing on opposition
§ 9:263 Persons entitled to oppose
§ 9:272 Covenant marriage; intent; conditions to create
§ 9:295 Covenant spouses' obligation to live together
§ 9:274 Covenant marriage; other applicable rules
§ 9:275.1 Declaration of intent; married couples; form
§ 9:276 Limitation of liability; pastoral counselor
§ 9:291 Suits between spouses
§ 9:292 Surname of married person
§ 9:293 Law applicable to spouses in covenant marriage
§ 9:296 Right and duty of covenant spouses to manage household
§ 9:224 Application; information required
§ 9:237 Information on matrimonial regime and covenant marriage laws; printed summary
§ 9:203 Officiant; judges and justices of the peace
§ 9:225 Documents required; attachments
§ 9:253 Disposition and recordation of marriage certificates
§ 9:254 Penalty for failure to file or complete marriage certificate
§ 9:273 Covenant marriage; contents of declaration of intent
§ 9:273.1 Declaration of intent; form
§ 9:275 Covenant marriage; applicability to already married couples
§ 9:298 Obligations to children of the marriage