2023 -- H 5443

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LC000207

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES

     Introduced By: Representatives Ajello, Knight, Batista, J. Lombardi, Kislak, Shallcross
Smith, Cruz, Handy, Tanzi, and Felix

     Date Introduced: February 08, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 15-3-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 15-3 entitled "Solemnization

of Marriages" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     15-3-12. Endorsement and return of license.

     (a) Every minister, elder, justice, warden, or other person who joins any persons in

marriage, shall:

     (b)(1) Endorse the “License and Certificate of Marriage” form, prescribed pursuant to §

15-2-7, presented to him or her by the persons, as provided in § 15-3-7, and certify that the persons

have been joined in marriage by him or her in accordance with the laws of the state of Rhode Island;

and

     (c)(2) Complete all the information on the “License and Certificate of Marriage” and file

the form within seventy-two (72) hours two (2) business days following the date of the marriage

with the clerk in the town or city from which the license was issued; provided, that a filed form that

is mailed and postmarked within the time specified shall be deemed to have been filed in a timely

manner.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC000207

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES

***

     This act would require returns of a marriage certificate to be filed within two (2) business

days after the ceremony, and would validate the common practice of filing the return by mail.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000207

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