Title 19, Chapter 3, Section 45
( 19-3-45)
Any judge of the probate court who by himself or his clerk knowingly
grants a license without the required consent or without proper
precaution in inquiring into the question of minority shall forfeit
the sum of $500.00 for every such act, to be recovered at the action
of the father or mother, if living, and, if not, at the action of
the guardian or legal representative of either of such contracting
parties, provided that under no circumstances shall more than one
action be maintained by the father or mother, guardian, or legal
representative of either of such contracting parties in connection
with any one marriage; and provided, further, that no such action
shall be brought prior to the expiration of 60 days from the date
that the marriage becomes public and that no action under this Code
section shall be maintained after the expiration of 12 months from
the date the marriage becomes public. A recovery shall be had
against the offending judge and his bondsmen. From the recovery a
reasonable attorney's fee, to be fixed by the presiding judge trying
the case, shall be paid to the attorney representing the person
bringing the action and, after the payment of court costs, one-third
of the remainder of the recovery shall be paid to the person
bringing the action; and the remaining two-thirds shall be paid to
the county educational fund of the county of the judge's residence.
A judge who in good faith destroys physician's certificates of
pregnancy and all records of the certificates under his control in
accordance with the provisions of law shall not be prosecuted under
this Code section for failure to require such a certificate from the
applicants for a marriage license, if a birth certificate is issued
for a child born to the applicants within the period of gestation
after the marriage license was issued. |