(a)  Persons intending to be joined together in marriage in this state must first obtain a license from the clerk of the town or city in which:

(1)  Either party to the proposed marriage resides; or

(2)  The proposed marriage is to be performed, if both parties are nonresidents of this state.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 15-2-1

  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9

(b)  Before any license shall be issued to any person who, having been previously married or a party to another relationship that provides substantially the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as a marriage, has been divorced, the person shall present to the town or city clerk an authenticated copy of the decree granting the divorce or an authenticated copy of the final dissolution of the previous relationship.

(c)  The town or city clerk shall issue a license to any person eligible to marry under the provisions of chapter 15-1.

History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 191, § 10; P.L. 1898, ch. 549, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 243, § 10; P.L. 1909, ch. 430, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 287, § 10; P.L. 1927, ch. 1064, § 1; P.L. 1938, ch. 2580, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 415, § 10; G.L. 1956, § 15-2-1; P.L. 1961, ch. 100, § 1; P.L. 1975, ch. 112, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 4, § 3; P.L. 2013, ch. 5, § 3.