Marriages illegally solemnized
This law is about people who perform marriage ceremonies when they know something is wrong. If someone performs a marriage knowing it is illegal, or knowing one person is too young, or knowing there is some other legal problem — that person can be charged with a crime. Also, if someone pretends to be allowed to perform marriages when they are not, and tricks people into thinking they got legally married, that is also a crime. The crime is a class C misdemeanor.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
451.115. Marriages illegally — . — Every person who shall any marriage, having knowledge of any fact which renders such marriage or criminal in either of the parties under any law of this state, or, having knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that either of the parties shall be under the age of , or is prohibited by section 451.020 from entering into such marriage, or where to his knowledge, any other exists to such marriage, and every person not by law to solemnize marriages who shall falsely represent that he is so authorized, and who, by any pretended marriage ceremony which he may perform, shall deceive any innocent person or persons into the belief that they have been legally married, shall, on , be of a .
(RSMo 1939 § 4652, A.L. 1982 S.B. 785, A.L. 1983 S.B. 44 & 45)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 4264; 1919 § 3514; 1909 § 4728
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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.