Oklahoma 2025 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB504 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/11/2025

                     
 
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) 
 
SENATE BILL 504 	By: Hamilton 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to marriage; amending 43 O.S. 2021, 
Section 3, which relates to eligibility to marry; 
imposing age restriction on eligi bility to marry; 
removing exceptions; updating statutory reference; 
and providing an effective date . 
 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     43 O.S. 2021, Section 3, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 3. A.  Any unmarried person who is at least eighteen 
(18) years of age and not otherwise disqualified is capable of 
contracting and consenting to marriage with a person of the opposite 
sex. 
B.  1.  Except as otherwise provided by t his subsection, no 
person under the age of eighteen (18) years shall enter into the 
marriage relation, nor shall any license issue therefor, except: 
a. upon the consent and authority expressly given by the 
parent or guardian of such underage applicant in t he 
presence of the authority issuing such license,   
 
 
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b. upon the written consent of the parent or guardian of 
such underage applicant executed and acknowledged in 
person before a judge of the district court or the 
court clerk of any county within the State o f 
Oklahoma, 
c. if the parent or guardian resides outside of the State 
of Oklahoma, upon the written consent of the parent or 
guardian executed before a judge or clerk of a court 
of record.  The executed foreign consent shall be duly 
authenticated in the sa me manner as proof of documents 
from foreign jurisdictions, 
d. if the certificate of a duly licensed medical doctor 
or osteopath, acknowledged in the manner provided by 
law for the acknowledgment of deeds, and stating that 
such parent or guardian is unable by reason of health 
or incapacity to be present in person, is presented to 
such licensing authority, upon the written consent of 
the parent or guardian, acknowledged in the same 
manner as the accompanying medical certificate, 
e. if the parent or guardian is on active duty with the 
Armed Forces of the United States, upon the written 
permission of the parent or guardian, acknowledged in 
the manner provided by law for acknowledgment of deeds 
by military personnel authorized to administer oaths.    
 
 
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Such permission shall be presented to the licensing 
authority, accompanied by a certificate executed by a 
commissioned officer in command of the applicant, to 
the effect that the parent or guardian is on active 
duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or 
f. upon affidavit of three (3) reputable persons stating 
that both parents of the mino r are deceased, or 
mentally incompetent, or their whereabouts are unknown 
to the minor, and that no guardian has theretofore 
been appointed for the minor.  The judge of the 
district court issuing the license may in his or her 
discretion consent to the marriage in the same manner 
as in all cases in which consent may be given by a 
parent or guardian. 
2.  Every person under the age of sixteen (16) years is 
expressly forbidden and pro hibited from entering into the marriage 
relation except when authorized by the court: 
a. in settlement of a suit for seduction or paternity, or 
b. if the unmarried female is pregnant, or has given 
birth to an illegitimate child and at least one parent 
of each minor, or the guardian or custodian of such 
child, is present before the court and has an 
opportunity to present evidence in the event such 
parent, guardian, or custodian objects to the issuance   
 
 
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of a marriage license.  If they are not present the 
parent, guardian, or custodian may be given notice of 
the hearing at the discretion of the court. 
3.  A parent or a guardian of any child under the age of 
eighteen (18) years who is in the custody of the Department of Human 
Services or the Department of Juvenil e Justice shall not be eligible 
to consent to the marriage of such minor child as required by the 
provisions of this subsection. 
4.  Any certificate or written permission required by this 
subsection shall be retained by the official issuing the marriage 
license. 
C. No marriage may be authorized when such marriage would be 
incestuous under this chapter title. 
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2025. 
 
60-1-505 TEK 1/11/2025 12:47:18 PM