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Maryland Code, Family Law § 2-403

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a)(1) A license shall read substantially as follows:

“State of Maryland and County of ․․․․․․․․․․ To any individual authorized by the laws of this State to perform a marriage ceremony. You are hereby authorized to join together in matrimony according to the rules and ceremonies of your church, society or religious sect and the laws of this State, or according to the laws of this State, the following individuals:

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

(state here name of intended party one)

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

(state here name of intended party two)

Given under my hand and seal of the Circuit Court for ․․․․․․․․․․, this ․․․․․․․․․․ day of ․․․․․․․․․․ (state here month and year).”

(2) A license shall contain:

(i) appropriate spaces in which the clerk shall enter:

1. the relationship of the parties to be married, if any; and

2. as to each party, the name, age, state or foreign country in which born, residence, and marital status (single, widowed, or divorced); and

(ii) a statement that the license is valid only:

1. for 6 months from the effective date and time stated on the license; and

2. in the county in which it is issued.

(b)(1) Attached to a license shall be 2 certificate forms that:

(i) read, “I hereby certify that on this ․․․․․․․․․․ day of ․․․․․․․․․․ (state here month and year), ․․․․․․․․․․ (state here time), at ․․․․․․․․․․ (state here location), in accordance with the license issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for ․․․․․․․․․․ (state here jurisdiction), I united in marriage the following individuals:

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

(state here name of party one)

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

(state here name of party two)”;

(ii) restate all information concerning the individuals married that is stated on the marriage license; and

(iii) provide a space for the signature of the authorized official who performs the marriage ceremony.

(2) Attached to a license, in the case of a Society of Friends marriage ceremony, shall be 2 certificate forms that:

(i) read, “We hereby certify that on this ․․․․․․․․․․ day of ․․․․․․․․․․ (state here month and year), ․․․․․․․․․․ (state here time), at ․․․․․․․․․․ (state here location), we, ․․․․․․․․․․ (state here name of party one) and ․․․․․․․․․․ (state here name of party two) were united in marriage in accordance with the ceremony of the Society of Friends and in accordance with the license issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for ․․․․․․․․․․ (state here jurisdiction)”;

(ii) restate all information concerning the individuals married that is stated on the marriage license; and

(iii) provide spaces for the signatures of the parties and the 2 overseers of the marriage ceremony.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maryland Code, Family Law § 2-403 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/md/family-law/md-code-family-sect-2-403/

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