Current Status Bill Number:1373 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19960418 Primary Sponsor:Thomas All Sponsors:Thomas Drafted Document Number:pfm\9215ac.96 Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 11 SJ Subject:Premarital counseling before marriage license issued
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
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Senate 19960418 Introduced, read first time, 11 SJ
referred to Committee
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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 20-1-215 SO AS TO REQUIRE PERSONS TO UNDERGO PREMARITAL COUNSELING BEFORE A MARRIAGE LICENSE CAN BE ISSUED; AND TO AMEND SECTION 20-1-230, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF MARRIAGE LICENSES, SO AS TO INCLUDE IN THE REQUIRED OATH A STATEMENT THAT THE PERSONS ATTENDED PREMARITAL COUNSELING.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 20-1-215. Before a marriage license may be issued, the persons applying for the license must receive premarital counseling conducted by persons with counseling credentials or authorized by law to provide counseling."
SECTION 2. Section 20-1-230 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 470 of 1994, is further amended to read:
"Section 20-1-230. Upon (a) the filing of the application required under the provisions of Section 20-1-220, (b) the lapse of at least twenty-four hours thereafter after the filing, (c) the payment of the fee provided required by law, and (d) the filing of a statement, under oath or affirmation, to the effect that the persons seeking the contract of matrimony are legally entitled to marry and have undergone the counseling required by Section 20-1-215, together with the full names of the persons, and their ages and places of residence, the judge of probate or clerk of court with whom the application was filed shall issue a license for the marriage of such these persons."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.