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<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-2A-03" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="2A" subtitle_name="Authorization for a Minor to Marry">
  <level label="a">
    <text>At the hearing, the court shall conduct an in camera interview of the petitioner separate from the petitioner’s parents, guardians, or legal custodians and intended spouse.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Neither the wishes of the parents,  guardians, or legal custodians of the petitioner nor the fact that the petitioner or the intended spouse of the petitioner is pregnant is sufficient evidence to determine that marriage is in the best interest of the petitioner.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>There is a rebuttable presumption that  marriage  is not in the best interests of the petitioner if all the parents, guardians, or legal custodians of the petitioner oppose the petition.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Subject to subsection (e) of this section, after a hearing, a court may issue an order granting  authorization to marry if the court makes written findings that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the petitioner is  at least 17 years old;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the petitioner seeks to marry voluntarily and free from force, coercion, and fraud; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>the petitioner is mature and capable of self–sufficiency and self–support.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A court may deny a petition for the  authorization to marry if the court makes a written finding that  marriage  is not in the best interest of the petitioner.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A court may not issue an order granting  authorization to marry under this section if the court determines that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the intended spouse of the petitioner:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>at any time has been in a position of authority over the petitioner or in a position of special trust with the petitioner or has had a professional relationship with the petitioner; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>has been convicted or adjudicated delinquent for:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>any crime against a minor;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>a crime of violence under § 14–101 of the Criminal Law Article;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>a sexual crime under Title 3, Subtitle 3 of the Criminal Law Article; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>human trafficking under Title 3, Subtitle 11 of the Criminal Law Article;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>one party is pregnant or has a child with the other party that evidences that the petitioner was the victim of a sexual crime committed by the intended spouse; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>a protective order or peace order was issued against the intended spouse of the petitioner, regardless of whether the petitioner was the person to be protected.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
