When someone applies for a marriage license, the license-issuing officer must give each prospective spouse a printed summary of the state’s matrimonial regime and covenant marriage laws. The attorney general must prepare those summaries.
SUBPART E. SUMMARY OF MATRIMONIAL REGIMES LAWS §237. Information on matrimonial regime and covenant marriage laws; printed summary A. On receiving an application for a license to marry, the license-issuing officer shall deliver to each prospective spouse, either in person or by registered mail, a printed summary of the then current matrimonial regime laws of this state and the covenant marriage law of this state. These summaries shall be prepared by the attorney general of this state. B. The summary of matrimonial regime law shall emphasize the possibility of contracting expressly a regime of one's choosing before marriage, that spouses who have not entered into a matrimonial agreement before marriage become subject to the legal regime by operation of law, and the possibility of contracting after marriage to modify the matrimonial regime. C. The summary of covenant marriage law shall emphasize that premarital counseling is mandatory at which time the necessary documents consisting of the declaration of intent and the affidavit and attestation of the counselor shall be executed, that the couple agrees to take all reasonable steps to preserve their marriage if marital difficulties arise, including marriage counseling, that divorce in a covenant marriage is restricted to fault by a spouse and living separate and apart for two years as provided in R.S. 9:307, that expenses for additional legal and marital counseling may be incurred by the couple in order to obtain a legal termination of a covenant marriage, and that divorce under the general marriage law of this state differs significantly. Acts 1987, No. 886, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 2001, No. 561, §1; Acts 2014, No. 360, §1.