1876

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 296

(1)  AN INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT PERFORM A MARRIAGE CEREMONY
WITHOUT A LICENSE ISSUED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE.

(2)  AN INDIVIDUAL WHO VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SUBSECTION IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND ON CONVICTION IS
SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $500.

(F)  CEREMONY PERFORMED BY A CLERK OR DEPUTY CLERK.

THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE
COUNTY SHALL DESIGNATE:

(1)  WHEN AND WHERE THE CLERK OR DEPUTY CLERK MAY
PERFORM A MARRIAGE CEREMONY; AND

(2)  THE FORM OF THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY TO BE RECITED
BY THE CLERK OR DEPUTY CLERK AND THE PARTIES BEING MARRIED.

(G)  FORMS OF RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES.

THIS SECTION DOES NOT AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY RELIGIOUS
DENOMINATION TO PERFORM A MARRIAGE CEREMONY IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE RULES AND CUSTOMS OF THE DENOMINATION.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language derived
without substantive change from former Article 62, §
3A(a), (b), and (d), the first clause of the third
paragraph of § 4, and the first and second clauses of
the first paragraph of § 15 and former Article 27, §§
392 and 394.

In subsection (a)(1) of this section, the former
phrase "minister of the Gospel" is deleted as included
in the clause "official of a religious order or body
authorized by the rules and customs of that order or
body to perform a marriage".

In subsections (a)(3) and (f) of this section, the
phrase "county administrative" judge is substituted
for the former term "resident" judge and for the
former phrases, "senior judge of the circuit court
resident in the county", and "senior judge", for
clarity and to conform to the language used in
Maryland Rule 1200. See the last paragraph of this
Revisor's Note.

In subsections (c)(1), (d)(1), and (e)(1) of this
section, the phrase "perform a marriage ceremony" is
substituted for the former references to "celebrate
the rites of marriage", "marry", and "join persons in
marriage" to conform to the language used throughout
this title.

In subsections (c)(2), (d)(2), and (e)(2) of this
section, the phrase "is guilty of a misdemeanor" is
new language added for clarity.