Full question:
My girlfriend and I are 17 and live in California. We are getting married next month and have applied to the court for consent. Will there be premarital counselling?
- Category: Marriage
- Subcategory: Minor
- Date:
- State: California
Answer:
Once the court has passed orders granting permission to the minor to marry, , if the court considers it necessary, it shall require the parties to participate in premarital counselling concerning social, economic, and personal responsibilities incident to marriage. Before asking the parties to participate in the premarital counselling, the court shall consider among other factors the ability of the parties to pay for the counselling. However, a reasonable fee to cover the cost of premarital counselling may be imposed by the court.Per California Family Code §304:
“As part of the court order granting permission to marry under Section 302 or 303, the court shall require the parties to the prospective marriage of a minor to participate in premarital counseling concerning social, economic, and personal responsibilities incident to marriage, if the court considers the counseling to be necessary. The parties shall not be required, without their consent, to confer with counselors provided by religious organizations of any denomination. In determining whether to order the parties to participate in the premarital counseling, the court shall consider, among other factors, the ability of the parties to pay for the counseling. The court may impose a reasonable fee to cover the cost of any premarital counseling provided by the county or the court. The fees shall be used exclusively to cover the cost of the counseling services authorized by this section.”
Per California Family Code §302:
“(a) An unmarried person under 18 years of age is capable of consenting to and consummating marriage upon obtaining a court order granting permission to the underage person or persons to marry.
(b) The court order and written consent of the parents of each underage person, or of one of the parents or the guardian of each underage person shall be filed with the clerk of the court, and a certified copy of the order shall be presented to the county clerk at the time the marriage license is issued.”
Per California Family Code §303:
“If it appears to the satisfaction of the court by application of a minor that the minor requires a written consent to marry and that the minor has no parent or has no parent capable of consenting, the court may make an order consenting to the issuance of a marriage license and granting permission to the minor to marry. The order shall be filed with the clerk of the court and a certified copy of the order shall be presented to the county clerk at the time the marriage license is issued.”
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