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LRB-5006/1
SWB:cdc
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
January 8, 2020 - Introduced by Senators Smith, Larson and Schachtner,
cosponsored by Representatives Anderson, Sargent, Billings, Brostoff,
Cabrera, Considine, Emerson, L. Myers, Neubauer, Sinicki, Skowronski,
Spreitzer, Stubbs, Subeck, C. Taylor, Wichgers and Zamarripa. Referred to
Committee on Public Benefits, Licensing and State-Federal Relations.
SB644,1,2 1An Act to repeal 765.02 (2); to renumber 765.02 (1); and to amend 765.11 (1),
2765.30 (2) (a) and 767.313 (1) (c) of the statutes; relating to: age for marriage.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill eliminates an existing exception to the marriageable age for certain
minors between the ages of 16 and 18 and, accordingly, establishes that all persons
must be 18 years of age or older in order to marry.
Under current law, a person who is at least 16 years old, but under 18 years old,
may obtain a marriage license if the person provides the county clerk with written
consent from the person's parents, guardian, custodian, or parent having the actual
care, custody and control of the person. The required written consent must meet
certain formal requirements for verification and must be filed with the county clerk
at the time the person files an application for a marriage license. In certain limited
circumstances, a court may provide the required written consent. This bill
eliminates any exception to the general requirement that a person must be 18 years
of age or older in order to marry.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB644,1 3Section 1 . 765.02 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 765.02.
SB644,2 4Section 2. 765.02 (2) of the statutes is repealed.
SB644,3
1Section 3. 765.11 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB644,2,202 765.11 (1) If any parent, grandparent, child, or natural guardian of a minor
3applicant for a marriage license, any
, brother, sister, or guardian of either of the
4applicants for a marriage license, either of the applicants, the district attorney, or a
5circuit court commissioner believes that the statements of the application are false
6or insufficient, or that an applicant is adjudicated incompetent without the right to
7marry, that person may file with the court having probate jurisdiction in the county
8in which the marriage license is applied for, a petition under oath, setting forth the
9grounds of objection to the marriage, and asking for an order requiring the parties
10making the application to show cause why the marriage license should not be
11refused. Whereupon, the court, if satisfied that the grounds of objection are prima
12facie valid, shall issue an order to show cause as aforesaid, returnable as the court
13directs, but not more than 14 days after the date of the order, which shall be served
14forthwith upon the applicants for the marriage license residing in the state, and upon
15the clerk before whom the application has been made, and shall operate as a stay
16upon the issuance of the marriage license until further ordered; if either or both of
17the applicants are nonresidents of the state the order shall be served immediately
18upon the nonresident by publication of a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, in the county
19in which the application is pending, and by mailing a copy thereof to the nonresident
20at the address contained in the application.
SB644,4 21Section 4. 765.30 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB644,3,222 765.30 (2) (a) Penalty for false statement. Any person who in any affidavit or
23statement made under s. 765.02 (2), 765.09 or 765.11, willfully and falsely swears,
24or who procures another to swear falsely in regard to any material fact relating to
25the competency of either or both of the parties applying for a marriage license, or as

1to the ages of such parties, if minors, or who falsely pretends to be the parent or
2guardian having authority to give consent to the marriage of such minor
.
SB644,5 3Section 5 . 767.313 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB644,3,84 767.313 (1) (c) A party was 16 or 17 years of age and did not have the consent
5of his or her parent or guardian or judicial approval, or a party was
under 16 18 years
6of age. Suit may be brought by the underaged party or a parent or guardian at any
7time prior to the party's attaining the age of 18 years, but a parent or guardian must
8bring suit within one year of obtaining knowledge of the marriage.
SB644,3,99 (End)
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