It includes optional language imposing a one-month waiting period for marriage, which can be waived in compelling circumstances or once premarital education or skills training is obtained. Even couples who are without the guidance of a minister should be able to find competent pre-marital training. For reasons of quality, practicality and convenience, people should be allowed to use this Directory, which is available free on the world wide web, and others like it. Many of the most effective providers of it are not licensed or degreed family therapists, counselors or social workers. Their training and accreditation is provided by the dozens of marriage education programs that have been developed in recent decades and continue to evolve.
Many providers are volunteers or do it as a second, part-time job.
Consolidated state licensing and regulation is unnecessary and would only stifle the availability and improvement of this vital public service. Proof of completion of training should be signed by a provider, on the stationery, or other form or certificate, that is used by the provider, program or sponsoring institution, but it need not be notarized. Whenever anyone contacts a Circuit Court Clerk or Deputy Clerk seeking a marriage license or celebrant, or anything else preliminary to marriage, or to file for divorce, legal separation, child custody or support, the Clerk or deputy shall ask if the couple have gotten or are getting marriage skills training, and from whom. If the marriage education is provided as marriage preparation, the couple shall undergo the training together. If it is required by state law or court procedures as a prerequisite to divorce, the individual parties may undergo it separately and need not both choose the same program or provider.