GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 1999
SESSION LAW 2000-58
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. G.S. 51-1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 51-1. Requisites of marriage; solemnization.
The consent of a male and female person who may lawfully
marry, presently to take each other as husband and wife, freely, seriously and plainly
expressed by each in the presence of the other, and in the presence of an
ordained minister of any religious denomination, minister authorized by his
church, superior court judge of this State or of another state, or of a
magistrate, and the consequent declaration by such minister minister,
judge, or officer that such persons are husband and wife, shall be a valid
and sufficient marriage: Provided, that the rite of marriage among the Society
of Friends, according to a form and custom peculiar to themselves, shall not be
interfered with by the provisions of this Chapter: Provided further, that
marriages solemnized and witnessed by a local spiritual assembly of the
Baha'is, according to the usage of their religious community, shall be valid;
provided further, marriages solemnized before March 9, 1909, by ministers of
the gospel licensed, but not ordained, are validated from their
consummation."
Section 2. This act is effective when it becomes law and expires on September 15, 2000.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 29th day of June, 2000.
s/ Marc Basnight
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
s/ James B. Black
Speaker of the House of Representatives
s/ James B. Hunt, Jr.
Governor
Approved 1:39 p.m. this 30th day of June, 2000