{"data":{"id":"us-mi/mich.-comp.-laws-551.2","jurisdiction":"us-mi","citation":"Mich. Comp. Laws § 551.2","heading":"Marriage as civil contract; consent; license; solemnization.","body":"Sec. 2.\n\nSo far as its validity in law is concerned, marriage is a civil contract between a man and a woman, to which the consent of parties capable in law of contracting is essential. Consent alone is not enough to effectuate a legal marriage on and after January 1, 1957. Consent shall be followed by obtaining a license as required by section 1 of Act No. 128 of the Public Acts of 1887, being section 551.101 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, or as provided for by section 1 of Act No. 180 of the Public Acts of 1897, being section 551.201 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, and solemnization as authorized by sections 7 to 18 of this chapter.","path":["MI Code","Chapter 551","Act R-S-of-1846"],"source_url":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-551-2","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:31Z","sha256":"c03055cfe83942d1ae4f9e7062b01291b576b3714b952e2427270489c0adf124","source_id":"us-mi","stale":false,"prev":"us-mi/mich.-comp.-laws-551.18","next":"us-mi/mich.-comp.-laws-551.3"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}