GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
H	2
HOUSE BILL 183
Committee Substitute Favorable 3/5/01

Short Title:	Marriage by District Court Judge.	()	
Sponsors:	     	
Referred to:	     	
February 21, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to allow district court judgeS and emergency superior court judges to perform marriage ceremonies.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 51‑1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 51‑1. Requisites of marriage; solemnization.
The consent of a male and female person who may lawfully marry, presently to take each other as husband and wife, freely, seriously and plainly expressed by each in the presence of the other, and in the presence of an ordained minister of any religious denomination, minister authorized by his church, district court judge of this State, emergency superior court judge of this State, or of a magistrate, and the consequent declaration by such  minister, judge, or officer that such persons are husband and wife, shall be a valid and sufficient marriage: Provided, that the rite of marriage among the Society of Friends, according to a form and custom peculiar to themselves, shall not be interfered with by the provisions of this Chapter: Provided further, that marriages solemnized and witnessed by a local spiritual assembly of the Baha'is, according to the usage of their religious community, shall be valid; provided further, marriages solemnized before March 9, 1909, by ministers of the gospel licensed, but not ordained, are validated from their consummation."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective April 1, 2001, and expires June 15, 2001.