{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-2-404.1","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Family Law § 2–404.1","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) A county may discount a marriage license fee under § 2-404(a) of this subtitle if the couple to be married has completed, within 1 year before the date of the application for the license, a premarital preparation course that meets the requirements specified in this section.\n(2) The amount of any discount shall be determined by the county governing body.\n(b) A premarital preparation course shall:\n(1) include instruction regarding:\n(i) conflict management;\n(ii) communication skills;\n(iii) financial responsibilities; and\n(iv) children and parenting responsibilities; and\n(2) consist of at least 4 hours of instruction.\n(c) A premarital preparation course may be conducted by:\n(1) a clinical professional counselor or a clinical marriage and family therapist licensed under Title 17, Subtitle 3A of the Health Occupations Article;\n(2) a psychologist licensed under Title 18 of the Health Occupations Article;\n(3) a social worker licensed under Title 19 of the Health Occupations Article;\n(4) an official representative of a religious institution if the representative has relevant training; or\n(5) any other qualified provider approved by a county governing body.\n(d) (1) A premarital preparation course provider shall register with the clerk by filing a written affidavit containing:\n(i) the provider’s name, address, and telephone number;\n(ii) a summary of the provider’s qualifications and training; and\n(iii) a statement that the provider shall comply with the course requirements specified in this section.\n(2) The clerk may establish a roster of area premarital preparation course providers, including those who offer the course on a sliding fee scale or for free.\n(e) (1) A premarital preparation course provider shall provide to each couple who completes the course a certificate of completion that specifies:\n(i) the names of the couple;\n(ii) the name of the provider; and\n(iii) the date of completion of the course.\n(2) To receive a discounted marriage license fee under this section, an applicant for a license shall verify completion of a premarital preparation course by filing with the clerk a valid certificate of course completion issued in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection.\n(f) Any cost for a premarital preparation course shall be paid by the applicant for a marriage license.\n(g) The discount authorized by this section may not be applied to any fee used to fund domestic violence programs.","path":["Article - Family Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gfl\u0026section=2-404.1","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:58:17Z","sha256":"015c768ad3e767ccec5a79854c51bc954dd4ac3a239d15a4c109992cd8599267","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-2-404","next":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-2-405"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}