HB 6441 Summary

• Replaces gender-specific language ("person") with gender-neutral language ("individual") throughout the marriage licensing statute.

• Increases the marriage license fee from $20.00 to $50.00, with $15.00 of each fee allocated to circuit court family counseling services including domestic violence and child abuse counseling.

• Increases the nonresident marriage license fee from $10.00 to $25.00 when both parties are nonresidents of Michigan.

• Allows probate courts to waive the marriage license fee in cases of undue hardship and permits unexpended family counseling funds to be held in escrow for future circuit court services.

• Allows charter counties with populations exceeding 2,000,000 to impose different marriage license fees by ordinance, provided fees do not exceed the cost of services provided and allocations for family counseling services are maintained.