SB17, s. 1 1Section 1. 765.09 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB17,4,32 765.09 (3) Each party shall present satisfactory, documentary proof of
3identification and residence and shall swear (or affirm) to the application before the
4clerk who is to issue the marriage license or the person authorized to accept such
5applications in the county and state where the party resides. The application shall
6contain the social security number of each party, as well as any other informational
7items that the department of health and family services directs, subject to sub. (4).
8The portion of the marriage application form that is collected for statistical purposes
9only shall indicate that the address of the marriage license applicant may be
10provided by a county clerk to a law enforcement officer under the conditions specified
11under s. 765.20 (2). Each applicant under 30 years of age shall exhibit to the clerk
12a certified copy of a birth certificate, and any applicants shall submit a copy of any
13judgments or a death certificate affecting the marital status. If such certificate or
14judgment is unobtainable, other satisfactory documentary proof of the requisite facts
15therein may be presented in lieu thereof. Whenever the clerk is not satisfied with

1the documentary proof presented, he or she shall submit the same, for an opinion as
2to the sufficiency of the proof, to a judge of a court of record in the county of
3application.
SB17, s. 2 4Section 2. 765.09 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB17,4,75 765.09 (4) If the parties intend to contract a covenant marriage under s. 765.26,
6the marriage license application shall include a separate form with the following
7declaration:
SB17,4,118 We, .... (name of intended husband) and .... (name of intended wife), do hereby
9declare that we intend to contract a covenant marriage and have executed and do
10submit for attachment to the marriage license a declaration of intent under section
11765.26 (1) (b), Wisconsin Statutes.
SB17, s. 3 12Section 3. 765.12 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB17,4,2313 765.12 (2) The Except as provided in sub. (3), the marriage license shall
14authorize the marriage ceremony to be performed in any county of this state within
1530 days of issuance, excepting that where both parties are nonresidents of the state,
16the ceremony shall be performed only in the county in which the marriage license is
17issued. The officiating person shall determine that the parties presenting
18themselves to be married are the parties named in the marriage license. If aware
19of any legal impediment to such marriage, the person shall refuse to perform the
20ceremony. The issuance of a marriage license shall not be deemed to remove or
21dispense with any legal disability, impediment or prohibition rendering marriage
22between the parties illegal, and the marriage license shall contain a statement to
23that effect.
SB17, s. 4 24Section 4. 765.12 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
SB17,5,9
1765.12 (3) If the parties indicate on their marriage license application that they
2intend to contract a covenant marriage, as provided in s. 765.09 (4), the parties shall
3submit to the clerk a declaration of intent to contract a covenant marriage that
4complies with s. 765.26 (1) (b). The clerk shall attach the declaration of intent to the
5marriage license. The marriage license shall authorize the marriage ceremony of
6parties who indicate on their marriage license application that they intend to
7contract a covenant marriage to be performed not sooner than 31 days nor later than
845 days after the license is issued. At any time before the marriage ceremony takes
9place, the parties may rescind their intention to contract a covenant marriage.
SB17, s. 5 10Section 5. 765.13 of the statutes is renumbered 765.13 (1).
SB17, s. 6 11Section 6. 765.13 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
SB17,5,1612 765.13 (2) The marriage document shall provide for a designation by the
13officiating person, or by the parties to the marriage if the marriage ceremony is
14performed without an officiating person, as to whether the parties entered into a
15covenant marriage. The designation shall be signed by the parties to the marriage,
16the witnesses and the officiating person, if any.
SB17, s. 7 17Section 7. 765.26 of the statutes is created to read:
SB17,5,21 18765.26 Covenant marriage. (1) Requirements for new marriages. (a) A
19covenant marriage may be contracted between one male and one female who, in
20addition to complying with the other requirements of this chapter, have done all of
21the following:
SB17,5,2422 1. Received premarital counseling on the nature, purposes and responsibilities
23of marriage from a marriage and family therapist, a professional counselor, a
24member of the clergy or a person designated by a member of the clergy.
SB17,5,2525 2. Executed a declaration of intent that complies with par. (b).
SB17,6,3
13. Indicated their intention to contract a covenant marriage on their marriage
2license application and provided the county clerk with a duplicate original of their
3declaration of intent.
SB17,6,54 (b) A declaration of intent to contract a covenant marriage shall include all of
5the following:
SB17,6,66 1. The following recitation by the parties:
SB17,6,15 7"We do solemnly declare that marriage is a covenant between a man and a
8woman who agree to live together as husband and wife for as long as they both may
9live. We have chosen each other carefully and disclosed to one another everything
10that could adversely affect the decision to enter into this marriage. We have received
11premarital counseling on the nature, purposes and responsibilities of marriage. We
12have read the pamphlet entitled "Covenant Marriage" and we understand that a
13covenant marriage is for life. If we experience marital difficulties, we commit
14ourselves to taking all reasonable efforts, including marriage counseling, to preserve
15our marriage.
SB17,6,1816 With full knowledge of what this commitment means, we do hereby declare that
17our marriage will be bound by Wisconsin law on covenant marriage and we promise
18to love, honor and care for one another as husband and wife for the rest of our lives."
SB17,7,219 2. An affidavit by the parties that they have received premarital counseling
20from a marriage and family therapist, a professional counselor, a member of the
21clergy or a person designated by a member of the clergy, and that the counseling
22included a discussion of the seriousness of covenant marriage, communication of the
23fact that a covenant marriage is a commitment for life, a discussion of the obligation
24to seek marriage counseling in times of marital difficulties and a discussion of the

1exclusive grounds in a covenant marriage for legal separation and divorce if a child
2is involved.
SB17,7,103 3. A notarized attestation, signed by the person who provided the counseling
4specified under subd. 2. and attached to or included in the parties' affidavit,
5confirming that the parties were counseled as to the nature and purpose of the
6marriage and the grounds for legal separation and divorce if a child is involved and
7acknowledging that the person provided to the parties the informational pamphlet
8developed and prepared by the department of health and family services, entitled
9"Covenant Marriage", that provides a full explanation of the terms, conditions and
10consequences of a covenant marriage.
SB17,7,1111 4. The notarized signatures of both parties.
SB17,7,1312 5. If one or both of the parties are between the ages of 16 and 18 years, the
13written consent required under s. 765.02 (2).
SB17,7,1714 (c) The recitation portion of the declaration under par. (b) 1. shall be prepared
15in duplicate originals, one of which shall be retained by the parties. The other
16duplicate original, together with the remainder of the declaration, shall be provided
17to the county clerk for attachment to the marriage license.
SB17,7,2318 (d) If the parties to a marriage fulfill the requirements of par. (a) and enter into
19a covenant marriage as intended, the officiating person, or the parties if the marriage
20ceremony is performed without an officiating person, shall designate on the
21marriage certificate that the parties entered into a covenant marriage. The
22designation must be signed by the parties, the witnesses and the officiating person,
23if any.
SB17,8,8 24(2) Requirements for marriages previously contracted. (a) Notwithstanding
25sub. (1), on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], a

1marriage between one male and one female that was entered into before the effective
2date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], may be designated by the married
3couple as a covenant marriage if the couple executes a declaration of intent that
4complies with par. (b). The declaration of intent shall be filed with the register of
5deeds with whom the couple's marriage certificate is filed. If the couple was married
6outside the state, a copy of their marriage certificate, or comparable document, with
7the declaration of intent attached, shall be filed with the register of deeds of the
8county in which the couple resides.
SB17,8,109 (b) A declaration of intent to designate an existing marriage as a covenant
10marriage shall include all of the following:
SB17,8,1111 1. The following recitation by the parties:
SB17,8,19 12"We do solemnly declare that marriage is a covenant between a man and a
13woman who agree to live together as husband and wife for so long as they both may
14live. We understand the nature, purposes and responsibilities of marriage. We have
15read the informational pamphlet entitled "Covenant Marriage", developed and
16prepared by the department of health and family services, and we understand that
17a covenant marriage is for life. If we experience marital difficulties, we commit
18ourselves to taking all reasonable efforts, including marital counseling, to preserve
19our marriage.
SB17,8,2320 With full knowledge of what this commitment means, we do hereby declare that
21our marriage will be bound by Wisconsin law on covenant marriage and we renew
22our promise to love, honor and care for one another as husband and wife for the rest
23of our lives."
SB17,8,2424 2. The notarized signatures of both parties.
SB17,9,4
1(c) The recitation portion of the declaration under par. (b) 1. shall be prepared
2in duplicate originals, one of which shall be retained by the parties. The other
3duplicate original, together with the remainder of the declaration, shall be filed as
4provided in par. (a).
SB17,9,14 5(3) Effect; special grounds for divorce or separation if a child is involved.
6A covenant marriage shall be subject to the same provisions as any other marriage
7and shall be in all respects the same as any other marriage, except that, if the parties
8to a covenant marriage, or either of them, has a minor child, or the wife is pregnant,
9at the time an action for divorce or legal separation is commenced, a court may grant
10a judgment of divorce or legal separation only upon one of the bases specified in s.
11767.07 (2m) (c). If, at the commencement of an action for divorce or legal separation,
12neither party to a covenant marriage has a minor child and the wife is not pregnant,
13a court may grant a judgment of divorce or legal separation with respect to the
14marriage as provided in s. 767.07 (1).
SB17,9,23 15(4) Informational pamphlet. The department of health and family services
16shall develop by rule and prepare an informational pamphlet, entitled "Covenant
17Marriage", that explains covenant marriage in easily understood language,
18including the procedure for entering into, or designating an existing marriage as, a
19covenant marriage and the effect of entering into, or designating an existing
20marriage as, a covenant marriage. The department of health and family services
21shall make the pamphlet available, upon request and free of charge, to any person
22who may provide the premarital counseling under sub. (1) (b) 2. and to any other
23person.
SB17, s. 8 24Section 8. 767.07 of the statutes is renumbered 767.07 (1), and 767.07 (1)
25(intro.), (a) and (b), as renumbered, are amended to read:
SB17,10,3
1767.07 (1) (intro.) A Except as provided in subs. (2m) and (3m), a court of
2competent jurisdiction shall grant a judgment of divorce or legal separation if all of
3the following apply
:
SB17,10,54 (a) The requirements of this chapter as to residence and marriage assessment
5counseling
have been complied with;.
SB17,10,86 (b) 1. In connection with a judgment of divorce or legal separation, the court
7finds that the marriage is irretrievably broken under s. 767.12 (2), unless par. (b)
8subd. 2. applies.
SB17,10,109 2. In connection with a judgment of legal separation, the court finds that the
10marital relationship is broken under s. 767.12 (3); and .
SB17, s. 9 11Section 9. 767.07 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB17,10,1612 767.07 (2m) Except as provided in sub. (3m), if the marriage of the parties is
13a covenant marriage under s. 765.26 and at the commencement of the action under
14this section the parties, or either of them, has a minor child or the wife is pregnant,
15a court of competent jurisdiction shall grant a judgment of divorce or legal separation
16only if all of the following apply:
SB17,10,1717 (a) The requirements under sub. (1) are satisfied.
SB17,10,1818 (b) The parties have undergone marriage counseling.
SB17,10,1919 (c) The court finds any of the following:
SB17,10,2020 1. That the respondent has violated s. 944.16 (1).
SB17,10,2221 2. That the respondent has been convicted of a felony and has been sentenced
22to imprisonment.
SB17,10,2423 3. That the respondent has abandoned the petitioner for at least one year and
24constantly refuses to return.
SB17,11,3
14. That the respondent has engaged in domestic abuse, as defined in s. 813.12
2(1) (a), with respect to the petitioner, or has engaged in abuse, as defined in s. 48.02
3(1), with respect to a child, stepchild or foster child of either or both of the parties.
SB17,11,54 5. That the petitioner and respondent have been living apart continuously
5without reconciliation for 2 years or longer.
SB17,11,96 6. That the respondent's habitual intemperance, cruel treatment of the
7petitioner or outrages toward the petitioner have made their living together
8insupportable, except that the court may grant only a judgment of legal separation
9if this subdivision applies.
SB17, s. 10 10Section 10. 767.07 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB17,11,1411 767.07 (3m) If the marriage of the parties is a covenant marriage under s.
12765.26, a court of competent jurisdiction shall grant a judgment of divorce if the court
13has granted a judgment of legal separation under sub. (1) or (2m) and the
14requirements under s. 767.09 (2) are satisfied.
SB17, s. 11 15Section 11. 767.085 (1) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB17,11,1816 767.085 (1) (bm) If the relief requested is a divorce or legal separation and the
17marriage of the parties is a covenant marriage under s. 765.26, the name and
18birthdate of any minor child of a party not specified in par. (b).
SB17, s. 12 19Section 12. 767.085 (1) (cr) of the statutes is created to read:
SB17,11,2220 767.085 (1) (cr) If the relief requested is a divorce or legal separation and the
21marriage of the parties is a covenant marriage under s. 765.26, that the marriage is
22a covenant marriage and either of the following:
SB17,11,2323 1. That neither party has a minor child and the wife is not pregnant.
SB17,12,3
12. That the parties, or either of them, has a minor child or the wife is pregnant,
2the grounds for the action and the facts supporting a reasonable basis on which the
3grounds are alleged.
SB17, s. 13 4Section 13. 767.12 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB17,12,85 767.12 (4) Grounds. In an action for divorce or legal separation, if both of the
6parties to a covenant marriage under s. 765.26 state by petition or stipulation that
7one or more of the grounds under s. 767.07 (2m) (c) apply, the court, after hearing,
8shall make a finding that those grounds apply.
SB17, s. 14 9Section 14. 767.13 (5) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 767.13 (5) (a) 1. (intro.)
10and amended to read:
SB17,12,1511 767.13 (5) (a) 1. (intro.) On authority delegated by a judge, which may be by
12a standard order, and with the approval of the chief judge of the judicial
13administrative district, a family court commissioner may preside at any hearing held
14to determine whether a judgment of divorce shall be granted, if both any of the
15following applies:
SB17,12,19 16a. Both parties state that the marriage is irretrievably broken and that all
17material issues, including but not limited to division of property or estate, legal
18custody, physical placement, child support, spousal maintenance and family
19support, are resolved or if one.
SB17,12,20 20c. One party does not participate in the action for divorce.
SB17,12,25 212. The family court commissioner may grant and enter judgment in any action
22over which he or she presides under this paragraph unless the judgment modifies an
23agreement between the parties on material issues. If the family court commissioner
24does not approve an agreement between the parties on material issues, the action
25shall be certified to the court for trial.
SB17, s. 15
1Section 15. 767.13 (5) (a) 1. b. of the statutes is created to read:
SB17,13,72 767.13 (5) (a) 1. b. If the marriage is a covenant marriage and the parties, or
3one of them, has a minor child or the wife is pregnant, both parties state that the
4marriage is irretrievably broken and that all material issues, including but not
5limited to division of property or estate, legal custody, physical placement, child
6support, spousal maintenance and family support, are resolved and stipulate as to
7the grounds under s. 767.07 (2m) (c) that apply.
SB17, s. 16 8Section 16 . Nonstatutory provisions.
SB17,13,139 (1) Rules related to informational pamphlet. The department of health and
10family services shall submit in proposed form the rules required under section 765.26
11(4) of the statutes, as created by this act, to the legislative council staff under section
12227.15 (1) of the statutes no later than the first day of the 7th month beginning after
13the effective date of this subsection.
SB17, s. 17 14Section 17. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the first day of the 13th
15month beginning after publication, except as follows:
SB17,13,1716 (1) The treatment of section 765.26 (4) of the statutes and Section 16 (1 ) of this
17act take effect on the day after publication.
SB17,13,1818 (End)
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