§ 51-17. Penalty for issuing license unlawfully.
§51‑17. Penalty for issuing license unlawfully.
Every register of deeds whoknowingly or without reasonable inquiry, personally or by deputy, issues alicense for the marriage of any two persons to which there is any lawfulimpediment, or where either of the persons is under the age of 18 years,without the consent required by law, shall forfeit and pay two hundred dollars($200.00) to any parent, guardian, or other person standing in loco parentis,who sues for the same: Provided, that requiring a party to a proposed marriageto present a certified copy of his or her birth certificate, or a certifiedcopy of his or her birth record in the form of a birth registration card asprovided in G.S. 130‑102, in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 51‑8,shall be considered a reasonable inquiry into the matter of the age of suchparty. (R.C., c. 68, s. 13; 1871‑2, c. 193, s. 7; Code,s. 1816; 1895, c. 387; 1901, c. 722; Rev., s. 2090; C.S., s. 2503; 1957, c.506, s. 2.)