Rhode Island Marriage Laws | § 15-3.1-12

State of Rhode Island General Laws 15-3.1-12

Merger of civil union into marriage by action of the parties.

(a) On and after the effective date of this section, two (2) persons who are parties to a civil union entered into pursuant to this chapter may apply for and be issued a marriage license and have such marriage solemnized pursuant to chapters 15-1 to 15-3 of the general laws, provided such persons are otherwise eligible to marry under chapter 15-1 as amended herein, and the parties to the marriage will be the same as the parties to the civil union. After the solemnization of such marriage, and upon filing of the license and certificate of marriage with the clerk in the town or city from which the license was issued pursuant to § 15-2-1, of the civil union of such persons shall be merged into the marriage by operation of law as of the date of the recording of the marriage certificate and shall be effective as of the date of the recording of the marriage certificate. (b) Such parties may also apply to the clerk of the town or city in which their civil union is recorded to have their civil union legally designated and recorded as a marriage, without any additional requirements of payment of marriage licensing fees or solemnization contained in chapters 15-1 to 15-3 of the general laws, provided that such parties' civil union was not previously dissolved or annulled. Upon application, the parties shall be issued a marriage certificate and the civil union of such persons shall be merged into the marriage by operation of law as of the date of the recording of the marriage certificate and shall be effective as of the date of the recording of the marriage certificate.

(P.L. 2013, ch. 4, § 5; P.L. 2013, ch. 5, § 5.)

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More Rhode Island Marriage Laws

§ 15-2-14 Minimum age for marriage license
§ 15-1-3 Incestuous marriages void.
§ 15-1-2 Marrying kindred forbidden.
§ 15-1-1 Equal access to marriage.
§ 15-1-6 Declaration of validity of marriage by divorced person.
§ 15-2-1 License required – Proof of divorce – Obligation of clerk to issue license.
§ 15-2-1.1 Statewide electronic marriage license system.
§ 15-2-3.1 Fetal Alcohol Syndrome warning law.
§ 15-2-8 Period of validity of license – Return if unused.
§ 15-2-9 License fee – Presentation of license to person performing ceremony.
§ 15-2-12 Recording of license information.
§ 15-2-13 Registrar in city of Providence.
§ 15-3-6 Marriages after the manner of Friends, according to Jewish rites, or spiritual assembly of Baha'is.
§ 15-3-7 Presentation of marriage license.
§ 15-3-8 Witnesses to ceremony.
§ 15-3-9 Statement of objections to marriage.
§ 15-3-10 Penalty for marriage without license or despite impediment.
§ 15-3-13 Filing of return of marriage.
§ 15-3-14 Neglect of duty by person performing ceremony.
§ 15-3-15 Marriages valid despite irregularities – Penalty for marriage without compliance.
§ 15-3-16 Solemnization of marriage without authority.
§ 15-3-17 Court orders regarding invalid marriages.
§ 15-3.1-1 Definitions.
§ 15-3.1-2 Eligibility.
§ 15-3.1-5 Conscience and religious organizations protected.
§ 15-3.1-6 Benefits, protections, and responsibilities.
§ 15-3.1-7 References and inclusions.
§ 15-3.1-8 Reciprocity.
§ 15-3.1-9 Dissolution of civil unions.
§ 15-3.1-10 Requirement of department of health – Civil unions.
§ 15-3.1-11 Severability.
§ 15-1-4 Marriages of kindred allowed by Jewish religion.
§ 15-1-5 Bigamous marriages void – Marriage of persons who are mentally incompetent.
§ 15-3-11 Knowingly performing bigamous marriage.
§ 15-1-7 Marriage codification.
§ 15-1-8 Recognition of relationships entered into in another state or jurisdiction.
§ 15-1-9 Applicability of state laws to marriages not recognized by federal law.
§ 15-2-7 Form and contents of certificates, reports, and other returns.
§ 15-2-9.1 Additional fee for family and children trust fund.
§ 15-3-6.1 Protection of freedom of religion in marriage.
§ 15-3-5 Officials empowered to join persons in marriage.
§ 15-3-12 Endorsement and return of license.
§ 15-3.1-12 Merger of civil union into marriage by action of the parties.
§ 15-3.1-13 Recognized date of marriage.