{"data":{"id":"us-me/19-a-m.r.s.-650","jurisdiction":"us-me","citation":"19-A M.R.S. §650","heading":"Findings and purposes","body":"All municipal clerks, the State Registrar of Vital Statistics and courts of this State have a duty and are legally required to construe the provisions of Maine's marriage laws in accordance with the following findings and purposes:\n1.  Findings.  The people of the State of Maine find that:\nA.  The union of 2 people joined in a monogamous marriage is of inestimable value to society; the State has a compelling interest to nurture and promote the unique institution of monogamous marriage in the support of harmonious families and the physical and mental health of children; and the State has the compelling interest in promoting the moral values inherent in a monogamous marriage.\n2.  Purposes.  The purposes of this chapter are:\nA.  To encourage a monogamous family unit as the basic building block of our society, the foundation of harmonious and enriching family life;\nB.  To nurture, sustain and protect  a monogamous family unit in Maine society, its moral imperatives, its economic function and its unique contribution to the rearing of healthy children; and\nC.  To support and strengthen monogamous Maine families against improper interference from out-of-state influences or edicts.","path":["TITLE 19-A: DOMESTIC RELATIONS","PART 2: MARRIED PERSONS","CHAPTER 23: MARRIAGE","SUBCHAPTER 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS"],"source_url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/19-A/title19-Asec650.html","current_through":"October 1, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:29Z","sha256":"182172d466173cba95b7f07898d03eb9c646ea731f7ba7276b02d71626ccc006","source_id":"us-me","stale":false,"prev":"us-me/19-a-m.r.s.-611","next":"us-me/19-a-m.r.s.-650-a"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}