Section 650 - Findings and purposesAll municipal clerks, the State Registrar of Vital Statistics and courts of this State have a duty and are legally required to construe the provisions of Maine's marriage laws in accordance with the following findings and purposes: [2019, c. 340, §1(AMD).]
1.Findings. The people of the State of Maine find that:A. The union of 2 people joined in a monogamous marriage is of inestimable value to society; the State has a compelling interest to nurture and promote the unique institution of monogamous marriage in the support of harmonious families and the physical and mental health of children; and the State has the compelling interest in promoting the moral values inherent in a monogamous marriage. [2019, c. 340, §2(AMD).] [2019, c. 340, §2(AMD).]
2.Purposes. The purposes of this chapter are:A. To encourage a monogamous family unit as the basic building block of our society, the foundation of harmonious and enriching family life; [2019, c. 340, §3(AMD).]B. To nurture, sustain and protect a monogamous family unit in Maine society, its moral imperatives, its economic function and its unique contribution to the rearing of healthy children; and [2019, c. 340, §3(AMD).]C. To support and strengthen monogamous Maine families against improper interference from out-of-state influences or edicts. [2019, c. 340, §3(AMD).] [2019, c. 340, §3(AMD).]
Amended by 2019, c. 340,§ 3, eff. 9/19/2019.Amended by 2019, c. 340,§ 2, eff. 9/19/2019.Amended by 2019, c. 340,§ 1, eff. 9/19/2019.