{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "255.00", "citation": "Penal Law § 255.00", "heading": "Unlawfully solemnizing a marriage", "text": ["§ 255.00 Unlawfully solemnizing a marriage.", "A person is guilty of unlawfully solemnizing a marriage when:", "1. Knowing that he is not authorized by the laws of this state to do so, he performs a marriage ceremony or presumes to solemnize a marriage; or", "2. Being authorized by the laws of this state to perform marriage ceremonies and to solemnize marriages, he performs a marriage ceremony or solemnizes a marriage knowing that a legal impediment to such marriage exists.", "Unlawfully solemnizing a marriage is a class A misdemeanor."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/255.00", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A person unlawfully solemnizes a marriage by:\n- **(1)** **Performing or purporting to perform a marriage ceremony while knowing they lack authority under New York law**; or\n- **(2)** While authorized, **performing the ceremony knowing a legal impediment to the marriage exists**. ★\nThe offense is a **class A misdemeanor**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/255.00", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}