I read the law, as it is currently proposed, and will include (what I think are) the relevant parts here. Please consider these and give me your feedback in the poll that follows (and the comments section, of course).
In the states in which I have been married, we first purchased a marriage license, then had a wedding, then the officiant at the wedding, we, and our witnesses signed the marriage certificate and license. The officiant filed the completed marriage certificate and the original license with the courthouse. Those were then recorded by an officer of the state, and returned to us by mail.
As far as I know, for most states, the process is probably similar.
(Parts of) the new law as proposed:
Sections 1 & 2 deal with what fees will be collected by the court clerk and when.)
Section 3.
A. Any unmarried person who is at least eighteen (18) years of age and not otherwise disqualified is capable of contracting and consenting to marriage.
I think we can all agree this would not be a problem.
(Section 3, subsections B & C deal with underage marriage requirements and the prohibition of incestuous marriage.)
Section 4 deals with filing fees, including that those fees can be reduced if the couple completes four hours of premarital counseling with a qualified counselor:
[Section 4.] B. 1. A premarital counseling program shall be conducted by a health professional, an official representative of a religious institution, or a person trained by the principal authors or duly authorized agents of the principal authors of nationally recognized marriage education curriculum including, but not limited to, Prevention & Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP). Upon successful completion of the program, the counseling program provider shall issue to the persons a certificate signed by the instructor of the counseling program. The certificate shall state that the named persons have successfully completed the premarital counseling requirements. A minimum of four (4) hours of education or counseling shall be necessary for successful completion of the marriage education curriculum.
2. For purposes of this subsection, the term "health professional" means a person licensed or certified by this state to practice psychiatry or psychology; a licensed social worker with experience in marriage counseling; a licensed marital and family therapist; or a licensed professional counselor.
Please note, this counseling is not required, but reduces the fees by ninety percent. (Yes, 90%.)
Also please note, the reduction of fees for completion of such a program is not new to Oklahoma marriage law. I included this part because it has been raised as a question on at least one forum I have read.
Section 5.
A. Except as provided in subsection E of this section marriages must be contracted by a formal ceremony performed or solemnized in the presence of at least two adult, competent persons as witnesses, by a judge or retired judge of any court in this state, or an ordained or authorized preacher or minister of the Gospel, priest or other ecclesiastical dignitary of any denomination who has been duly ordained or authorized by the church to which he or she belongs to preach the Gospel, or a rabbi and who is at least eighteen (18) years of age.
[I omitted here the instructions for someone to file with the court to be an officiant.]
E. Marriages between persons belonging to the society called Friends, or Quakers, the spiritual assembly of the Baha'is, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or other assemblies which have no ordained minister, may be solemnized by the persons and in the manner prescribed by and practiced in any such society, church, or assembly.
Section 5 as shown is also changed very little by this new law, but has been extensively questioned on multiple forums I have read concerning which denominations of which religious organizations will be allowed to officiate.
Emphasis within the proposed section has been added (to the original) by this law.
Section 6, subsections A through D instruct officiants and parties regarding completing the marriage certificate that is outlined in Section 9 and submitting it promptly to the court clerk. One thing I see as a major change is the "certificate filed with the state" paperwork will be returned by mail to the person who filed it, not necessarily the couple themselves.
[Section 6.] E. Marriages not contracted by a formal ceremony pursuant to subsection A of this section may be acknowledged by filing an affidavit of common law marriage with the court clerk. The affidavit of common law marriage shall be signed by both parties, notarized with official seal affixed and include:
1. The place of residence of each party;
2. The full legal name and age of each party as they appear upon or are calculable from a certified copy of the birth certificate, the current driver license or identification card, the current passport or visa, or any other certificate, license or document issued by or existing pursuant to the laws of any nation or of any state, or political subdivision thereof, accepted as proof of identity and age;
3. The full name by which each party will be known after the common law marriage, which shall become the full legal name of the party upon the filing of the affidavit of common law marriage; and
4. That the parties are not disqualified from or incapable of entering into a common law marriage.
This part seems to cover all other possible ways someone may choose to marry in Oklahoma besides having the ceremony officiated by a judge or religious agent.
Section 7.
[A. discusses the clerk's processing of the license; I will not fully repeat that here.]
B. Any entity requiring proof of identity or marital status shall accept a certified copy of the marriage certificate or affidavit of common law marriage that has been filed with the court clerk. Any reference in the Oklahoma Statutes requiring a marriage license as proof of identity or marital status shall be interpreted to include a marriage certificate or affidavit of common law marriage executed on or after November 1, 2015.
C. Nothing provided in this section shall be construed to invalidate a marriage license issued by the court clerk prior to November 1, 2015.
Subsections B & C shown are additions to current law.
Section 8 outlines penalties for any state official who fails to appropriately record any certificate of marriage submitted to her/him.
Section 9, subsection A shows the layout of the certificate to be used as well as the information to be included on it. Subsection B adds the following:
[Section 9.] B. The power of attorney is legally sufficient under this act,
if the wording of the form complies substantially with subsection A of this section, the form is properly completed, and the signatures of the parties are acknowledged.
Section 10 (as far as my research indicates) repeals sections of Oklahoma law that require or pertain to a marriage license.
Section 11 makes the new law effective November 1, 2015.