Revised Statutes of 1846 (EXCERPT)
Chapter 83. Of marriage and the solemnization thereof.

551.16 Want of jurisdiction or authority to solemnize marriage; affect on marriage.

Sec. 16.

A marriage solemnized before an individual professing to be a district judge, common pleas court judge, district court magistrate, municipal judge, judge of probate, judge of a federal court, mayor, the county clerk or, in a county having more than 2,000,000 inhabitants, an employee of the county clerk designated by the clerk to solemnize marriages, or a minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner shall not be considered or adjudged to be void, nor shall the validity of the marriage be affected, on account of a want of jurisdiction or authority by that individual if the marriage was consummated with a full belief on the part of the individuals married, or either of them, that they were lawfully joined in marriage.


History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 83 ;--CL 1857, 3219 ;--CL 1871, 4730 ;--How. 6220 ;--CL 1897, 8599 ;--CL 1915, 11373 ;--CL 1929, 12701 ;--CL 1948, 551.16 ;--Am. 1972, Act 211, Eff. July 1, 1972 ;--Am. 1975, Act 175, Imd. Eff. July 20, 1975 ;--Am. 1979, Act 24, Imd. Eff. June 6, 1979 ;--Am. 2006, Act 419, Imd. Eff. Sept. 29, 2006