§ 9-11-214 — Recordation of credentials of clerical character

(a) No minister of the gospel or priest of any religious sect or denomination shall be authorized to solemnize the rites of matrimony in this state until the minister or priest has caused to be recorded his or her license or credentials of his or her clerical character in the office of the county clerk of some county in this state. The minister or priest must also have obtained from the clerk a certificate, under his or her hand and seal, that the credentials are duly recorded in his or her office. (b) It shall be the duty of a minister of the gospel or priest to add to the certificate of marriage required by law a statement setting forth the county where and the time when his or her license or credentials were so recorded. (c) Any minister of the gospel, priest of any religious sect or denomination, or any person purporting to be such, who shall solemnize the rites of matrimony contrary to the provisions of this section, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. On conviction he or she shall be fined in any sum not less than one hundred dollars ($100). (d) (1) It shall be the duty of the clerk and recorder in each county, seasonably to record, in a well-bound book to be kept for that purpose, all licenses or credentials of clerical character of the persons who deposit the licenses or credentials of clerical character with him or her for record. (2) Any clerk failing to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall, on motion of the party aggrieved, giving the clerk ten (10) days' notice in writing of the motion, be fined any sum not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100).

Legislative History

Rev. Stat., ch. 94, §§ 11, 22, 23; Acts 1843, §§ 2, 3, p. 55; 1873, No. 2, §§ 2, 3, p. 2; C. & M. Dig., §§ 7047, 7049, 7053, 7054; Pope's Dig., §§ 9027, 9029, 9033, 9034; Acts 1947, No. 93, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 55-218 -- 55-221