GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

S                                                                                                                                                    D

SENATE DRS75023-LL-53  (01/03)

Short Title:     Any Judge/Justice May Perform Marriage.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senator Rand.
Referred to:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT allowing any judge or justice to perform marriage ceremonies.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 51-1 reads as rewritten:

"§ 51-1.  Requisites of marriage; solemnization.

A valid and sufficient marriage is created by 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, either:

(1)        a.         In the presence of an ordained minister of any religious denomination, a minister authorized by a church, a judge or justice of the trial court or appellate divisions of the General Court of Justice, or a magistrate; and

b.         With the consequent declaration by the minister minister, judge or justice of the trial court or appellate divisions of the General Court of Justice, or magistrate that the persons are husband and wife; or

(2)        In accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious denomination, or federally or State recognized Indian Nation or Tribe.

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.