§ 4 — Marriage and divorce

§ 4. Marriage and divorce. The laws of the state relating to the\ncapacity to contract marriage, the solemnization of marriage, the\nannulment of the marriage contract, and divorce, are applicable to\nIndians; and subject to the jurisdiction of the peacemakers' courts of\nthe Seneca nation to grant divorces, the same courts shall have\njurisdiction of actions arising thereunder. But Indians who have\nheretofore contracted marriage according to the Indian custom or usage,\nand shall cohabit as husband and wife, shall be deemed lawfully married.\nAs provided by subdivision three-a of section eleven of the domestic\nrelations law, marriages may be solemnized by a judge or peacemaker\njudge of any Indian tribal court, a chief, a headman, or any member of\nany tribal council or other governing body of any nation, tribe or band\nof Indians in this state duly designated by such body for that purpose,\nor any other persons duly designated by such body, in keeping with the\nculture and traditions of any such nation, tribe or band of Indians in\nthis state, to officiate at marriages.\n