CHAPTER 273
HB 1661 - FINAL VERSION
6Mar2018... 0461h
04/19/2018 1403s
2018 SESSION
18-2681
05/04
HOUSE BILL 1661
AN ACT relative to a marriage petition by a party under age.
SPONSORS: Rep. Gourgue, Straf. 25; Rep. Cilley, Straf. 4; Rep. Read, Rock. 17; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill provides that the court shall not grant permission for a person under the age of consent to marry unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the marriage is in his or her best interest.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
6Mar2018... 0461h
04/19/2018 1403s 18-2681
05/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen
AN ACT relative to a marriage petition by a party under age.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
273:1 Petition by a Party Under Age. Amend RSA 457:6 and RSA 457:7 to read as follows:
457:6 Petition by Party Under Age.
I. If [special cause exists rendering desirable] the marriage of a person resident in this state, or the marriage of a person who is a nonresident in this state who applies for permission to marry a resident in this state, either person being below the age of consent and above the ages specified in RSA 457:4, is desired, the parties desiring to contract such marriage, with the parent or guardian having the custody of such party below such age, if there be such parent or guardian, may apply in writing to the judicial branch family division having jurisdiction in the location in which one of them resides, for permission to contract such marriage.
II. The petition shall indicate whether, to the knowledge of the petitioner, the department of health and human services, bureau of child protection services has contacted or been involved with the family of the person under the age of consent.
III. As part of the decision making process, the court may conduct an in camera interview of each person under the age of consent, without that person's parent or guardian or the other party to the marriage present.
IV. Permission to contract such marriage shall be granted only upon clear and convincing evidence that the marriage is in the best interest of the person or persons below the age of consent.
V. No [waiver] permission shall be granted to persons below the age of consent if both parties are nonresidents.
457:7 Granting of Permission. Such justice or judge shall at once hear the parties, and, if satisfied that [special cause exists making such marriage desirable] it has been shown by clear and convincing evidence that the marriage is in the best interest of the person or persons below the age of consent, shall grant permission therefor, which shall be filed with the court and shall be reported to the division of vital records. The division shall note the fact of the granting of such permission upon the certificate and upon all copies thereof which are by law required to be kept.
273:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2019.
Approved: June 18, 2018
Effective Date: January 01, 2019
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 2018 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 20, 2018 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 21, 2018 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| March 6, 2018 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 3, 2018 | Senate | Hearing |
| April 19, 2018 | Senate | Floor Vote |
June 18, 2018: Signed by Governor Sununu 06/18/2018; Chapter 273; Eff. 1/1/2019
May 3, 2018: Enrolled 05/03/2018
May 3, 2018: Enrolled (In recess 05/03/2018); SJ 17
April 26, 2018: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 1403s (Rep. K. Rice): MA VV 04/26/2018 HJ 14 P. 1
April 19, 2018: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2018-1403s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/19/2018; SJ 13
April 19, 2018: Committee Amendment # 2018-1403s, AA, VV; 04/19/2018; SJ 13
April 19, 2018: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2018-1403s, 04/19/2018; SC 17
April 3, 2018: Hearing: 04/03/2018, Room 100, SH, 10:15 am; SC 15
March 8, 2018: Introduced 03/08/2018 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
March 6, 2018: Ought to Pass with Amendment 0461h: MA VV 03/06/2018 HJ 6 P. 6
March 6, 2018: Amendment # 2018-0461h: AA VV 03/06/2018 HJ 6 P. 6
March 6, 2018: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2018-0461h (NT) for 03/06/2018 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 9 P. 4
: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2018-0461h (NT) (Vote 13-0; CC)
Feb. 21, 2018: ==RESCHEDULED== Executive Session: 02/21/2018 11:00 AM LOB 206
Feb. 20, 2018: Executive Session: 02/20/2018 11:00 AM LOB 206
Feb. 6, 2018: ==CONTINUED== Subcommittee Work Session: 02/06/2018 03:30 PM LOB 206
Jan. 30, 2018: ==RECESSED== Subcommittee Work Session: 01/30/2018 03:30 PM LOB 206
Jan. 29, 2018: ==RECESSED== Subcommittee Work Session: 01/29/2018 09:00 AM LOB 206
Jan. 16, 2018: Public Hearing: 01/16/2018 02:00 PM LOB 206
Jan. 3, 2018: Introduced 01/03/2018 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 1 P. 19