Premarital Counseling

Utah Code tit. 81, ch. 81-2, pt. 81-2-P2

in effect

Utah Code § 81-2-201 Definitions for part.

81-2-201. Definitions for part. As used in this part: (1) "Premarital counseling" includes group counseling, individual counseling, and couple counseling. (2) "Premarital education" includes: (a) a lecture, class, seminar, or workshop provided by a person that meets the requirements of Subsection 81-2-206(2)(b)(i); or (b) an online course approved by the Utah Marriage Commission as provided in Subsection 81-2-206(2)(b)(i)(F). Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 366, 2024 General Session

Utah Code § 81-2-202 Premarital counseling or education -- State policy -- Applicability.

81-2-202. Premarital counseling or education -- State policy -- Applicability. It is the policy of the state to enhance the possibility of couples to achieve more stable, satisfying, and enduring marital and family relationships by providing opportunities for and encouraging the use of premarital counseling or education before securing a marriage license. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 366, 2024 General Session

Utah Code § 81-2-203 Premarital counseling board in county -- Appointment, terms, compensation, offices -- Common counseling board with adjacent county.

81-2-203. Premarital counseling board in county -- Appointment, terms, compensation, offices -- Common counseling board with adjacent county. (1) A county is authorized to: (a) provide for premarital counseling; and (b) require the use of premarital counseling as a condition precedent to the issuance of a marriage license under the provisions of this part. (2) The county may appoint a premarital counseling board consisting of seven members, four of whom shall be lay persons and three of whom shall be chosen from the professions of psychiatry, psychology, social work, marriage counseling, the clergy, law or medicine. (3) The county may designate the terms of office and the procedures to be followed by the premarital counseling board and provide for payment of compensation and expenses for members. (4) The county may pay the salaries and expenses of a counseling staff under the supervision of the premarital counseling board and provide office space, furnishings, equipment and supplies for the board's use. (5) A county may join with an adjacent county or counties in forming a common premarital counseling board and in establishing a common master plan for premarital counseling. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 366, 2024 General Session

Utah Code § 81-2-204 Master plan for counseling.

81-2-204. Master plan for counseling. (1) It shall be the function and duty of the premarital counseling board, after holding public hearings, to make, adopt, and certify to the county legislative body a master plan for premarital counseling of marriage license applicants within the purposes and objectives of this part. (2) The master plan described in Subsection (1) shall include: (a) counseling procedures that: (i) will make applicants aware of problem areas in their proposed marriage; (ii) suggest ways of meeting problems; and (iii) will induce reconsideration or postponement when: (A) the applicants are not sufficiently matured or are not financially capable of meeting the responsibilities of marriage; or (B) are marrying for reasons not conducive to a sound lasting marriage; and (b) standards for evaluating premarital counseling received by the applicants, prior to their application for a marriage license, which would justify issuance of certificate without further counseling being given or required. (3) The premarital counseling board may, from time to time, amend or extend the plan described in Subsection (1). (4) The premarital counseling board may, subject to Subsection (5): (a) appoint a staff and employees as may be necessary for its work; and (b) contract with social service agencies or other consultants within the county or counties for services it requires. (5) Expenditures for the appointments and contracts described in Subsection (4) may not exceed the sums appropriated by the county legislative body plus sums placed at its disposal through gift or otherwise. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 366, 2024 General Session

Utah Code § 81-2-205 Conformity to master plan for counseling as prerequisite to marriage license -- Exceptions.

81-2-205. Conformity to master plan for counseling as prerequisite to marriage license -- Exceptions. Whenever a county has adopted a master plan for premarital counseling no resident of the county may obtain a marriage license without conforming to the plan, except that: (1) an individual who applies for a marriage license shall have the right to secure the license and to marry notwithstanding the individual's failure to conform to the required premarital counseling or the individual's failure to obtain a certificate of authorization from the premarital counseling board if the individual waits six months from the date of application for issuance of the license; (2) this part does not apply to any application for a marriage license where both parties are at least 19 years old and neither has been previously divorced; (3) this part does not apply to any application for a marriage license unless both applicants have physically resided in Utah for 60 days immediately preceding their application; or (4) premarital counseling required by this part is considered fulfilled if the applicants present a certificate verified by a clergyman that the applicants have completed a course of premarital counseling approved by a church and given by or under the supervision of the clergyman. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 366, 2024 General Session

Utah Code § 81-2-206 Completion of counseling or education.

81-2-206. Completion of counseling or education. (1) The county clerk of a county that operates an online marriage application system and issues a marriage license to applicants who certify completion of premarital counseling or education in accordance with Subsection (2) shall reduce the marriage license fee by $20. (2) (a) To qualify for the reduced fee under Subsection (1), the applicants shall certify completion of premarital counseling or education in accordance with this Subsection (2). (b) To complete premarital counseling or education, the applicants: (i) shall obtain the premarital counseling or education from: (A) a licensed or ordained minister or the minister's designee who is trained by the minister or denomination to conduct premarital counseling or education; (B) an individual licensed under Title 58, Chapter 60, Mental Health Professional Practice Act; (C) an individual certified by a national organization recognized by the Utah Marriage Commission, created in Title 63M, Chapter 15, Utah Marriage Commission, as a family life educator; (D) a family and consumer sciences educator; (E) an individual who is an instructor approved by a premarital education curriculum that meets the requirements of Subsection (2)(b)(ii); or (F) an online course approved by the Utah Marriage Commission; (ii) shall receive premarital counseling or education that includes information on important factors associated with strong and healthy marriages, including: (A) commitment in marriage; and (B) effective communication and problem-solving skills, including avoiding violence and abuse in the relationship; (iii) shall complete at least three hours of premarital counseling or six hours of premarital education meeting the requirements of this Subsection (2); and (iv) shall complete the premarital counseling or education meeting the requirements of this Subsection (2) not more than one year before but at least 14 days before the day on which the marriage license is issued. (c) Although applicants are encouraged to take the premarital counseling or education together, each applicant may comply with the requirements of this Subsection (2) separately. (3) A provider of premarital counseling or education under this section is encouraged to use research-based relationship inventories. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 366, 2024 General Session

Utah Code § 81-2-207 Persons performing counseling services designated by board -- Exemption from license requirements.

81-2-207. Persons performing counseling services designated by board -- Exemption from license requirements. For the purposes of this part, the premarital counseling board of each county or combination of counties may determine those persons who are to perform any services under this part and any person so acting is not subject to prosecution or other sanctions for the person's failure to hold any license for these services as may be required by the laws of the state. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 366, 2024 General Session

Utah Code § 81-2-208 Confidentiality of information obtained under counseling provisions.

81-2-208. Confidentiality of information obtained under counseling provisions. (1) Except for the information required or to be required on the marriage license application form, any information given by a marriage license applicant in compliance with this part: (a) shall be confidential information; and (b) may not be released by any person, board, commission, or other entity. (2) Notwithstanding Subsection (1), the premarital counseling board or board of commissioners may use the information given by a marriage license applicant, without identification of individuals, to compile and release statistical data. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 366, 2024 General Session

Utah Code § 81-2-209 Fee for counseling.

81-2-209. Fee for counseling. Any county adopting a master plan under this act is authorized to charge, in addition to the county's ordinary marriage license application fees, not more than $10 for premarital counseling, to be paid by the applicants at the time the applicants make application. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 366, 2024 General Session

Source: Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (le.utah.gov)URL: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title81/Chapter2/81-2-P2.html?v=C81-2-P2_2024090120240501Fetched: 10/26/2026