Bill > HB562

This bill establishes the Missouri Covenant Marriage Act, which provides couples with an optional alternative to standard marriage licenses. Under this legislation, couples can choose to enter into a covenant marriage by completing additional requirements, including providing a written declaration of intent, receiving at least eight hours of premarital counseling, and signing notarized attestations about their commitment. Couples who already have a standard marriage license can also convert to a covenant marriage. For couples in a covenant marriage seeking to dissolve their union, the bill imposes stricter conditions compared to standard marriages, including mandatory marital counseling, a minimum two-year waiting period before divorce, and specific grounds for separation or dissolution such as adultery, substance abuse, felony conviction, domestic violence, abandonment, or prolonged separation. The bill requires detailed documentation to be filed with the recorder of deeds and mandates that the state publish information about covenant marriages on its website. Importantly, the legislation emphasizes the covenant marriage as a lifelong commitment and provides a framework for couples who want a more legally binding and counseling-intensive marriage arrangement.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB562&year=2025&code=R