Family Law - Marriage License Applications - Appearance and Affidavits
Sponsor: Gary Simmons (District 12B)Committee: JudiciarySubject: Family LawStatus: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (as of Sep 4, 2026)
What this bill does
Official synopsis
Requiring both parties to be married, rather than one party, to appear before the clerk of a circuit court to apply for a marriage license; and authorizing the clerk of a circuit court to accept an affidavit rather than an application from both parties to be married if a party to be married is unable to appear before a clerk in the county where the marriage is to take place due to military service, incarceration, hospitalization, or another demonstrated good cause.
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Testimony (6)
MGA witness listFAV 3FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendments
| Position | Witness | Organization | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAV | Delegate Simmons, Delegate Simmonslegislator | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Simmons, Gary | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Tibbals, Trudy | Individual | Position only |
| FWA | Poyer, Scott | Clerk of the Circuit Court | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FWA | Smith, Michelle | MSBA FLSC | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FWA | DeWees, Heather | Maryland Circuit Court Clerks' Association | Oral + Written (PDF) |