The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-07-10
The New Marriage Law.

Armstrong, OF Washington county,
went into effect July |. 1t makes
important changes in the manner #
issuing the licenses, and places the
responsibility for the eligibility of
the contracting parties upon the APP
plicant and upon the clerk of the
court who issues the license. The
minister of the Gospel, so far as the
law is concerned, can marry the par
ties named in the license without
question or inquiry. The new law
provides that before the clerk Of any
of the courts authorized snail issue
any marriage license he shall exam
Inc on oath the person making appli-
cation for the same to ascertain-tirst,
the full names of the parties second.
their places of residence third. their
ages fourth, their color fifth, wheth-
er married or single sixth, whether
related or not, and if so, in what de-
gree of relationship, which facts
shall be set out in a printed form, to
be signed by the person making the
application. The court clerk is re-
quired to keep record book in his
Office in which he shall make a com
plete record of the Issuing of the Ii
cense. and all the matters which he
shall be required to ascertain relative
to the rights of the parties to obtain
the license, and upon the return of
the certificate it shall appear in the
record when the same was filed and
the name of the minister or other
person or persons by whom the cere-
mony was performed. No license
shall he issued unless the male be
above q and the female above 16
years of age, unless the parents or
guardians assent thereto in person or
writing, attested by two witnesses
and the fact OF such assent shall he
made part of the record. If in the
course of the examination of any ap.
plicant for license it shall appear to
the clerk that any legal impediment
exists under the laws of the State why
the parties shall not be joined in
marriage, he shall withhold the H.
cense, unless ordered by the court of
which he is clerk to issue the same.
A certified copy of the record of the
marriage liceuse and certificate, under
the hand of the clerk and the seal of
the court, shall be received in all
courts of the State as evidence of the
marriage between the parties. The
license fee is 81, the same as under
the law reducing the fee from $3.50,
which went into effect June / 1886.
The license, when produced shall be
full authority to any minister or
other person authorized to marry re-
ceiving the same to proceed with the
marriage of the parties named there
In, but for marrying without such IL
cense he shall.On conviction, be fined
not less than 500 nor more than 5000.
The county courts and the Superior
Court of Baltimore City may, upon
the petition of either of the parties,
Inquire into, hear and determine, and
the county courts and the Criminal
Court of Baltimore City, on indict-
ment, may inquire into, hear and de-
termine the validity of any marriage
and may declare any marriage con-
trary to the table in this article, or
any second marriage. the first subsis-
ting, null and void. and on appeal
the dispositions and evidence given
In the cause shall be transmitted with
the record to the Court of Appeals,
and thereupon such cause shall be
heard, determined and adjudged, de
aovO. The minister who performs
the marriage ceremony shall give one
certificate of the fact to the contract
ing parties, and also send a certificate
TO the Office of the clerk who issues
Che license.
Stale Comptroller Turner has sent
out to the several clerks copies of the
new form of license and the certificate
appended thereto. Clerk Gray, of the
Court of Common Pleas of Baltimore
city, is getting up the required record
book for the new order of things. The
form of license as it has been issued
heretofore is addressed "To the
Rev. Mr.. Blank or any other person
qualified by law to celebrate the mar
rage rite in the State of Maryland:
These are to authorize and license
you to solemnize the rites of marriage
between the said persons according to
law, there appearing to you no law.
full cause or just impediment by rea-
son of any consanguinity or affinity
to hinder the same" The new form
OF license will be addressed: "To
any minister of the Gospel or other
officer or person authorized by the
laws of the State to sOlemniZe mar.
rage; You are hereby authorized
to join together the persons named in
the holy state of matrimony, accord
inc To the rulas and ceremonies IF