<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>
<leg xml:space="preserve" billnum="SB0110" sponsor="Todd Weiler" designation="SB" otherSponsor="Karianne Lisonbee" otherHouse="House" subNumber="02" subSponsor="Todd Weiler" sess="2026GS" fileno="2026FL0544" date="1/23/2026 14:01:287" printDate="02-05 15:07" subVer="2" minVer="0" office="LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL" actionDate="" impact="code"><info><nextbuid>3</nextbuid><aminfo anum="0" effdate="05/06/2026"><seclist><sect action="A" src="code" buid="1" uid="C81-2-S408_2026050620260506" fromuid="C81-2-S408_2024090120240501" sort="81 02 04080020260506" mtype="section" effdate="05/06/2026">81-2-408</sect><sect src="uncod" untype="effdate" buid="2" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" mtype="uncod" effdate="05/06/2026"/></seclist></aminfo></info><tbox><sinfo><nextpairid>0</nextpairid></sinfo><st numlevel="1" lineno="1" slineno="0-1">Marriage Amendments</st><sessionhead>2026 GENERAL SESSION</sessionhead><statehead>STATE OF UTAH</statehead><sponsorhead>Chief Sponsor: Todd Weiler</sponsorhead><otherSponsorhead>House Sponsor: Karianne Lisonbee</otherSponsorhead></tbox><lt numlevel="1" lineno="2" slineno="0-2"><lthead lineno="3">LONG TITLE</lthead><gdhead lineno="4">General Description:</gdhead><gd numlevel="1" lineno="5" slineno="0-5">This bill modifies provisions relating to the validity of a marriage.</gd><hphead lineno="6">Highlighted Provisions:</hphead><hp numlevel="1" lineno="7" slineno="0-7">This bill:<hl numlevel="1" lineno="8" slineno="0-8" level="1">provides that a marriage that is not properly solemnized is valid only if an individual files <ln numlevel="1" lineno="9" slineno="0-9"/>a petition for a court to legally recognize the marriage before May 5, 2027.</hl></hp><moni numlevel="1" lineno="10" slineno="0-10" display="none">Money Appropriated in this Bill:</moni><moniNone lineno="11">None</moniNone><oc numlevel="1" lineno="12" slineno="0-12">Other Special Clauses:</oc><ocNone lineno="13">None</ocNone><sa numlevel="1" lineno="14" slineno="0-14">Utah Code Sections Affected:<saamd numlevel="1" lineno="15" slineno="0-15"><snhead>AMENDS:</snhead><sn num="81-2-408" src="code" uid="C81-2-S408_2026050620260506" buid="1" sort="81 02 04080020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="16" slineno="0-16"><bold>81-2-408</bold>, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 366</sn></saamd></sa></lt><enacthead lineno="17"/><enact numlevel="1" lineno="18" slineno="0-18">Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:</enact><bdy><bsec buid="1" num="81-2-408" type="amend" src="code" uid="C81-2-S408_2026050620260506" sort="81 02 04080020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="19" slineno="1-1" sn="1"><section number="81-2-408" numlevel="1" lineno="20" slineno="1-2" type="amend"><secline lineno="19">Section 1. Section <bold>81-2-408</bold> is amended to read:</secline><catline lineno="20"><bold>81-2-408<parens/>. Validity of marriage not solemnized or solemnized before an <ln numlevel="1" lineno="21" slineno="1-3"/>unauthorized individual.</bold></catline><subsection ssid="1-null-1" dnum="1-o:_-i" numlevel="1" lineno="22" slineno="1-4" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="2" level="1" placement="noreturn"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1000" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="start">(1)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="86" groupid="66" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="end">A marriage that is not solemnized according to this chapter is legal and valid if a court <ln numlevel="1" lineno="23" slineno="1-5"/>or administrative order establishes that the marriage arises out of a contract between two <ln numlevel="1" lineno="24" slineno="1-6"/>individuals who:</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><subsection ssid="1-null-2" dnum="a-o:_-i" numlevel="1" lineno="25" slineno="1-7" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="2" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1001" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="start">(a)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="89" groupid="69" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="end">are of legal age and capable of giving consent;</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-3" dnum="b-o:_-i" numlevel="1" lineno="26" slineno="1-8" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="2" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1002" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="start">(b)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="90" groupid="70" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="end">are legally capable of entering a solemnized marriage under the provisions of this <ln numlevel="1" lineno="27" slineno="1-9"/>chapter;</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-4" dnum="c-o:_-i" numlevel="1" lineno="28" slineno="1-10" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="2" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1003" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="start">(c)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="91" groupid="71" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="end">have cohabited;</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-5" dnum="d-o:_-i" numlevel="1" lineno="29" slineno="1-11" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="2" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1004" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="start">(d)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="92" groupid="72" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="end">mutually assume marital rights, duties, and obligations; and</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-6" dnum="e-o:_-i" numlevel="1" lineno="30" slineno="1-12" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="2" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1005" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="start">(e)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="93" groupid="73" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="end">who hold themselves out as and have acquired a uniform and general reputation as <ln numlevel="1" lineno="31" slineno="1-13"/>spouses.</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-23" dnum="_-o:1-i" numlevel="1" lineno="32" slineno="1-14" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="1"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1006" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(1)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="41" groupid="37" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">Before May 5, 2027, an individual may file a petition with a court to validate and make <ln numlevel="1" lineno="33" slineno="1-15"/>legal a marriage that is not solemnized in accordance with this chapter.</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-24" dnum="_-o:2-i" numlevel="1" lineno="34" slineno="1-16" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="1"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1007" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(2)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="49" groupid="41" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">On a filing of a petition described in Subsection (1), the court may enter an order <ln numlevel="1" lineno="35" slineno="1-17"/>validating and making legal a marriage that is not solemnized in accordance with this <ln numlevel="1" lineno="36" slineno="1-18"/>chapter if the court establishes that the marriage arises out of a contract between two <ln numlevel="1" lineno="37" slineno="1-19"/>individuals:</amend><subsection ssid="1-26" dnum="_-o:a-i" numlevel="1" lineno="38" slineno="1-20" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1008" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(a)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="57" groupid="48" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">of legal age and capable of giving consent;</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-27" dnum="_-o:b-i" numlevel="1" lineno="39" slineno="1-21" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1009" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(b)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="60" groupid="50" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">legally capable of entering a solemnized marriage under the provisions of this <ln numlevel="1" lineno="40" slineno="1-22"/>chapter;</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-28" dnum="_-o:c-i" numlevel="1" lineno="41" slineno="1-23" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1010" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(c)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="63" groupid="52" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">who have cohabited;</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-29" dnum="_-o:d-i" numlevel="1" lineno="42" slineno="1-24" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1011" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(d)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="66" groupid="54" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">who mutually assume marital rights, duties, and obligations; and</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-30" dnum="_-o:e-i" numlevel="1" lineno="43" slineno="1-25" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1012" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(e)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="69" groupid="56" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">who hold themselves out as and have acquired a uniform and general reputation as <ln numlevel="1" lineno="44" slineno="1-26"/>spouses.</amend></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-7" dnum="2-o:3-i" numlevel="1" lineno="45" slineno="1-27" level="1" space="false"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1013" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(2)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1014" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(3)</amend></display><subsection ssid="1-null-8" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="99" groupid="78" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="both">A petition for an unsolemnized marriage shall be filed </amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="98" groupid="77" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">An individual may <ln numlevel="1" lineno="46" slineno="1-28"/>only file the petition described in Subsection (1) </amend>during the relationship described in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="47" slineno="1-29"/>Subsection <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="26" groupid="25" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="both">(1)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="24" groupid="23" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(2)</amend>, or within one year following the termination of that relationship.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-9" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="48" slineno="1-30" level="2"><display>(b)</display>Evidence of a marriage recognizable under this section may be:<subsection ssid="1-null-10" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="49" slineno="1-31" level="3"><display>(i)</display>manifested in any form; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-11" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="50" slineno="1-32" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>proved under the same general rules of evidence as facts in other cases.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-32" dnum="_-o:4-i" numlevel="1" lineno="51" slineno="1-33" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="1"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1018" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(4)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="104" groupid="82" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">On and after May 5, 2027, an individual may not file a petition described in Subsection <ln numlevel="1" lineno="52" slineno="1-34"/>(1).</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-12" dnum="3-o:5-i" numlevel="1" lineno="53" slineno="1-35" level="1" space="false"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1019" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(3)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1020" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(5)</amend></display><subsection ssid="1-null-13" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>A marriage solemnized before an individual professing to have authority to <ln numlevel="1" lineno="54" slineno="1-36"/>perform marriages may not be invalidated for lack of authority if consummated in the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="55" slineno="1-37"/>belief of the parties or either party that the person had authority and that the parties <ln numlevel="1" lineno="56" slineno="1-38"/>have been lawfully married.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-14" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="57" slineno="1-39" level="2"><display>(b)</display>Except as otherwise explicitly provided by law, Subsection <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="109" groupid="86" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="both">(3)(a)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="108" groupid="85" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(5)(a)</amend> may not be <ln numlevel="1" lineno="58" slineno="1-40"/>construed to validate a marriage that:<subsection ssid="1-null-15" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="59" slineno="1-41" level="3"><display>(i)</display>is prohibited or void under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="81-2-403">81-2-403</xref>; or</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-16" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="60" slineno="1-42" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>fails to meet the requirements of Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="81-2-302">81-2-302</xref>, as validated by a court with <ln numlevel="1" lineno="61" slineno="1-43"/>jurisdiction.</subsection></subsection></subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="2" type="uncod" untype="effdate" src="uncod" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" langlock="true" numlevel="1" lineno="62" slineno="2-1" sn="2"><section type="uncod" untype="effdate" display="false" src="uncod"><secline lineno="62">Section 2.  <bold>Effective Date.</bold></secline><sectionText lineno="63"><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1" groupid="1" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both">This bill takes effect on <effdate uid="code" date="5/6/2026">May 6, 2026</effdate>.</amend></sectionText></section></bsec></bdy><foot><rev><tm>1-23-26 2:04 PM</tm></rev></foot></leg>