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<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="2-406" title_number="2" title_name="Marriage" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Licensing and Performance">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this subsection, “judge” means:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a judge of the District Court, a circuit court, the Appellate Court of Maryland, or the Supreme Court of Maryland;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a judge approved under Article IV, § 3A of the Maryland Constitution and § 1–302 of the Courts Article for recall and assignment to the District Court, a circuit court, the Appellate Court of Maryland, or the Supreme Court of Maryland;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a judge of a United States District Court, a United States Court of Appeals, or the United States Tax Court; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>a judge of a state court if the judge is active or retired but eligible for recall.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A marriage ceremony may be performed in this State by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>any official of a religious order or body authorized by the rules and customs of that order or body to perform a marriage ceremony;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>any clerk;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>any deputy clerk designated by the clerk of the circuit court for the county; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>a judge.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Within 6 months after a license becomes effective, any authorized official may perform the marriage ceremony of the individuals named in the license.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An individual may not perform a marriage ceremony unless the individual is authorized to perform a marriage ceremony under subsection (a) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An individual who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine of $500.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An individual may not knowingly perform a marriage ceremony between individuals who are prohibited from marrying under § 2-202 of this title.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An individual who violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine of $500.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An individual may not perform a marriage ceremony without a license that is effective under this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An individual who violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $500.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The county administrative judge of the circuit court for the county shall designate:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>when and where the clerk or deputy clerk may perform a marriage ceremony; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the form of the marriage ceremony to be recited by the clerk or deputy clerk and the parties being married.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>This section does not affect the right of any religious denomination to perform a marriage ceremony in accordance with the rules and customs of the denomination.</text>
  </level>
</section>
