HLS 14RS-2902 ORIGINAL
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 1260 (Substitute for House Bill No. 738 by Representative Nancy
Landry)
BY REPRESENTATIVE NANCY LANDRY
MARRIAGE: Provides relative to notice of certain expenses under the Covenant of
Marriage Act
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 9:237(C), relative to covenant marriages; to provide for notice2
of certain expenses; and to provide for related matters.3
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:4
Section 1. R.S. 9:237(C) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 5
ยง237. Information on matrimonial regime and covenant marriage laws; printed6
summary7
* * *8
C. The summary of covenant marriage law shall emphasize that premarital9
counseling is mandatory at which time the necessary documents consisting of the10
declaration of intent and the affidavit and attestation of the counselor shall be11
executed, that the couple agrees to take all reasonable steps to preserve their12
marriage if marital difficulties arise, including marriage counseling, that divorce in13
a covenant marriage is restricted to fault by a spouse and living separate and apart14
for two years as provided in R.S. 9:307, that expenses for additional legal and marital15
counseling may be incurred by the couple in order to obtain a legal termination of16
a covenant marriage, and that divorce under the general marriage law of this state17
differs significantly.18 HLS 14RS-2902 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1260
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Nancy Landry HB No. 1260
Abstract: Provides for notification that expenses for additional legal and marital counseling
may be incurred by a couple in order to obtain a legal termination of a covenant
marriage.
Present law requires that on receiving an application for a license to marry, the license-
issuing officer shall deliver to each prospective spouse, either in person or by registered
mail, a printed summary of the current matrimonial regime laws of this state and the
covenant marriage law of this state, and that the summaries shall be prepared by the attorney
general of this state.
Present law requires that the summary emphasize the possibility of contracting expressly a
regime of one's choosing before marriage, that spouses who have not entered into a
matrimonial agreement before marriage become subject to the legal regime by operation of
law, and the possibility of contracting after marriage to modify the matrimonial regime.
Present law requires that the summary of covenant marriage law shall emphasize that
premarital counseling is mandatory, that the couple agrees to take all reasonable steps to
preserve the marriage, including marriage counseling, that divorce in a covenant marriage
is restricted to fault by a spouse and living separate and apart for two years as provided in
R.S. 9:307, and that divorce under the general marriage law of this state differs significantly.
Proposed law retains present law and requires the summary to emphasize that expenses for
additional legal and marital counseling may be incurred by a couple in order to obtain a legal
termination of a covenant marriage.
(Amends R.S. 9:237(C))