Utah Marriage Laws | § 81-2-206

Utah Code 81-2-206

Completion of counseling or education.

[Section 30-1-14 Renumbered] §81-2-206 Completion of counseling or education.

(1) The county clerk of a county that operates an online marriage application system and issues a marriage license to applicants who certify completion of premarital counseling or education in accordance with Subsection (2) shall reduce the marriage license fee by $20.

(2) (a) To qualify for the reduced fee under Subsection (1), the applicants shall certify completion of premarital counseling or education in accordance with this Subsection (2).

(b) To complete premarital counseling or education, the applicants:

(i) shall obtain the premarital counseling or education from:

(A) a licensed or ordained minister or the minister's designee who is trained by the minister or denomination to conduct premarital counseling or education;

(B) an individual licensed under Title 58, Chapter 60, Mental Health Professional Practice Act;

(C) an individual certified by a national organization recognized by the Utah Marriage Commission, created in Title 63M, Chapter 15, Utah Marriage Commission, as a family life educator;

(D) a family and consumer sciences educator;

(E) an individual who is an instructor approved by a premarital education curriculum that meets the requirements of Subsection (2)(b)(ii); or (F) an online course approved by the Utah Marriage Commission;

(ii) shall receive premarital counseling or education that includes information on important factors associated with strong and healthy marriages, including:

(A) commitment in marriage; and

(B) effective communication and problem-solving skills, including avoiding violence and abuse in the relationship;

(iii) shall complete at least three hours of premarital counseling or six hours of premarital education meeting the requirements of this Subsection (2); and

(iv) shall complete the premarital counseling or education meeting the requirements of this Subsection (2) not more than one year before but at least 14 days before the day on which the marriage license is issued.

(c) Although applicants are encouraged to take the premarital counseling or education together, each applicant may comply with the requirements of this Subsection (2) separately.

(3) A provider of premarital counseling or education under this section is encouraged to use research-based relationship inventories.

Amended by Chapter 347, 2018 General Session; Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 366, 2024 General Session

Back to Utah Marriage Laws

More Utah Marriage Laws

§ 81-2-202 Premarital counseling or education -- State policy -- Applicability.
§ 30-1-2.2 [Repealed] Validation of interracial marriages.
§ 81-2-405 Recognition and validation of a marriage regardless of the race, ethnicity, or national origin of the parties.
§ 81-2-302 Marriage licenses -- Use within state -- Expiration.
§ 81-2-408 Validity of marriage not solemnized or solemnized before an unauthorized individual.
§ 81-2-407 Validity of foreign marriages -- Exceptions.
§ 81-2-102 Marriage recognition policy.
§ 81-2-402 Incestuous marriages void.
§ 81-2-203 Premarital counseling board in county -- Appointment, terms, compensation, offices -- Common counseling board with adjacent county.
§ 81-2-305 Who may solemnize marriages -- Certificate.
§ 81-2-303 Application for license -- Contents
§ 30-1-11 [Repealed] Return of license after ceremony -- Penalty for failure to return -- Criminal penalty for false statement.
§ 81-4-303 Petition for annulment -- Venue -- Judgment on validity of marriage.
§ 30-1-17.2 [Repealed] Action to determine validity of marriage -- Orders relating to parties, property, and children -- Presumption of paternity in marriage.
§ 30-1-17.3 [Repealed] Age as basis of action to determine validity of marriage -- Refusal to grant annulment.
§ 30-1-5 [Repealed] Marriage solemnization -- Before unauthorized person -- Validity.
§ 81-2-406 Validation of marriage to a person with acquired immune deficiency syndrome or other sexually transmitted disease.
§ 30-1-3 [Superseded] Marriage in belief of death or divorce of former spouse -- Issue legitimate.
§ 81-2-403 Marriages prohibited and void.
§ 81-2-404 Validation of marriage to a person subject to chronic epileptic fits who had not been sterilized.
§ 81-2-304 Marriage of a minor -- Consent of parent or guardian -- Juvenile court authorization.
§ 81-4-102 Action for annulment or divorce as alternative relief.
§ 30-1-9.1 [Repealed] Parental consent to prohibited marriage of minor -- Penalty.
§ 30-1-13 [ Repealed ] Solemnization without license -- Penalty.
§ 81-2-306 County clerk to file license and certificate -- Designation as vital record.
§ 30-1-15 [Repealed] Solemnization of prohibited marriage -- Penalty.
§ 30-1-16 [ Repealed] Misconduct of county clerk -- Penalty.
§ 81-4-302 Annulment -- Grounds.
§ 81-2-204 Master plan for counseling.
§ 30-1-14 [ Repealed ] Acting without authority -- Penalty.
§ 81-2-205 Conformity to master plan for counseling as prerequisite to marriage license -- Exceptions.
§ 81-2-206 Completion of counseling or education.
§ 81-2-207 Persons performing counseling services designated by board -- Exemption from license requirements.
§ 81-2-201 Definitions for part. (Premarital Counseling)
§ 81-2-208 Confidentiality of information obtained under counseling provisions.
§ 81-2-209 Fee for counseling.
§ 81-2-409 Legal recognition of a child when marriage is void.
§ 81-2-401 Definitions for part.
§ 81-1-101 Definitions for title.
§ 81-2-301 Definitions for part.
§ 30-1-10 [Repealed] Affidavit before the clerk -- Penalty.