Home Table of Contents

§ 2-404.1. Premarital preparation course

West's Annotated Code of MarylandFamily Law

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Family Law (Refs & Annos)
Title 2. Marriage (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 4. Licensing and Performance (Refs & Annos)
MD Code, Family Law, § 2-404.1
§ 2-404.1. Premarital preparation course
Currentness
Marriage license fee discount for taking premarital preparation course
(a)(1) A county may discount a marriage license fee under § 2-404(a) of this subtitle if the couple to be married has completed, within 1 year before the date of the application for the license, a premarital preparation course that meets the requirements specified in this section.
(2) The amount of any discount shall be determined by the county governing body.
Content and length of premarital preparation course
(b) A premarital preparation course shall:
(1) include instruction regarding:
(i) conflict management;
(ii) communication skills;
(iii) financial responsibilities; and
(iv) children and parenting responsibilities; and
(2) consist of at least 4 hours of instruction.
Who may conduct a premarital preparation course
(c) A premarital preparation course may be conducted by:
(1) a clinical professional counselor or a clinical marriage and family therapist licensed under Title 17, Subtitle 3A of the Health Occupations Article;
(2) a psychologist licensed under Title 18 of the Health Occupations Article;
(3) a social worker licensed under Title 19 of the Health Occupations Article;
(4) an official representative of a religious institution if the representative has relevant training; or
(5) any other qualified provider approved by a county governing body.
Preparation course provider shall register with the clerk
(d)(1) A premarital preparation course provider shall register with the clerk by filing a written affidavit containing:
(i) the provider's name, address, and telephone number;
(ii) a summary of the provider's qualifications and training; and
(iii) a statement that the provider shall comply with the course requirements specified in this section.
(2) The clerk may establish a roster of area premarital preparation course providers, including those who offer the course on a sliding fee scale or for free.
Certificate of completion
(e)(1) A premarital preparation course provider shall provide to each couple who completes the course a certificate of completion that specifies:
(i) the names of the couple;
(ii) the name of the provider; and
(iii) the date of completion of the course.
(2) To receive a discounted marriage license fee under this section, an applicant for a license shall verify completion of a premarital preparation course by filing with the clerk a valid certificate of course completion issued in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection.
Cost
(f) Any cost for a premarital preparation course shall be paid by the applicant for a marriage license.
Fee for domestic violence programs not part of discount
(g) The discount authorized by this section may not be applied to any fee used to fund domestic violence programs.

Credits

Added by Acts 2001, c. 635, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2001.
MD Code, Family Law, § 2-404.1, MD FAMILY § 2-404.1
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document