Establishes provisions relating to covenant marriages

HB 2548 establishes a covenant marriage option in Missouri, allowing couples to enter into a marriage with additional legal commitments beyond standard marriages. To qualify, couples must complete a written declaration of intent, receive at least eight hours of premarital counseling from a religious leader or counselor on covenant marriage’s lifelong nature and limited divorce grounds, and provide notarized attestations verifying the counseling. The covenant marriage license is legally equivalent to a standard marriage license, granting identical rights and benefits. Existing married couples can convert their marriage to a covenant marriage by submitting a notarized declaration without needing additional counseling.