§ 2-402. Application for license

   (a) When and where made. -- An applicant for a license may apply to the clerk only at the office of the clerk during regular office hours.

(b) Information required. -- Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, to apply for a license, 1 of the parties to be married shall:

   (1) appear before the clerk and give, under oath, the following information, which shall be placed on an application form by the clerk:

      (i) the full name of each party;

      (ii) the place of residence of each party;

      (iii) the age of each party;

      (iv) whether the parties are related by blood or marriage and, if so, in which degree of relationship;

      (v) the marital status of each party; and

      (vi) whether either party was married previously, and the date and place of each death or judicial determination that ended any former marriage;

   (2) sign the application form; and

   (3) provide the clerk with the Social Security number of each party who has a Social Security number.

(c) Social Security numbers. -- The Social Security numbers of the parties:

   (1) shall be included in the electronic file for the marriage license application; and

   (2) except as provided in § 10-617 of the State Government Article, may not be disclosed as part of the public record of the marriage license application.

(d) Parties not residents of county. -- If the parties to be married are not residents of the county where the marriage ceremony is to be performed, the clerk shall accept, instead of the application specified in subsection (b) of this section, an affidavit from 1 of the parties to be married. The affidavit shall:

   (1) contain the information required by subsection (b) of this section; and

   (2) be sworn to under oath before a clerk or other comparable official in the county, state, province, or country where the party resides.

(e) Cecil County. -- In Cecil County both parties to be married shall appear together before the clerk to apply for a license.

(f) Disclosure of application for license prohibited. -- Until a license becomes effective, a clerk may not disclose the fact that an application for a license has been made except to the parent or guardian of a party to be married.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 62, § 6, 7; 1984, ch. 296, § 2; 1988, ch. 123, § 1, 2; 1992, ch. 22, § 1; 1997, ch. 609, § 1; 1999, ch. 336, § 2; 2003, ch. 120; 2004, ch. 25.