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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
HOUSE BILL 2423 By: May
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to marriage; amending 43 O.S. 2021,
Section 7, which relates to solemnization of
marriages; modifying who may perform formal
ceremonies; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE ST ATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 43 O.S. 2021, Section 7, as
amended by Section 3, Chapter 241, O.S.L. 2022 (43 O.S. Supp. 2022,
Section 7), is amended to read as follows:
Section 7. A. All marriages must be contracted by a formal
ceremony performed or solemnized in the presence of at least two
adult, competent persons as witnesses, by a judge or retired judge
of any court in this state, or an ordained or authorized preac her or
minister of the Gospel, priest, deacon, elder, or other
ecclesiastical dignitary of any denomination who has been duly
ordained or authorized by the church to which he or she be longs to
preach the Gospel, or a rabbi and who is at least eigh teen (18)
years of age.
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B. 1. The judge shall place his or her order of appointment on
file with the office of the court clerk of the county in which he or
she resides.
2. The preacher, minister, priest, deacon, elder, rabbi, or
ecclesiastical dignitar y shall certify on the marriage certificate
that he or she holds credentials or authority from his or her church
or synagogue authorizing him or her to solemnize ma rriages.
C. No person herein authorized to perform or sole mnize a
marriage ceremony shall do so unless he or she has good reason to
believe the persons pr esenting themselves before him or her for
marriage are the identical persons named in the license, and for
whose marriage the same was issued, and that there is no legal
objection or impediment to such marriag e.
D. Marriages between pe rsons belonging to t he society called
Friends, or Quakers, the spiritual assembly of the Baha 'is, or the
Church of Jesus Christ of La tter Day Saints, which have no ordained
minister, may be solemnized by the persons and in the ma nner
prescribed by and prac ticed in any such so ciety, church, or
assembly.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
59-1-7120 CMA 01/11/23