Are there any restrictions on who can be a witness to a marriage?

In Texas, there are laws regulating who is qualified to be a witness to a marriage. A witness must be at least 18 years of age and must be able to understand the nature and effect of the marriage and the duties of the parties to the marriage. Witnesses must also be capable of giving competent testimony to the court if necessary. The Texas Family Code states that a witness must not be related to either spouse by blood or marriage, unless it is a step-relative. A witness also cannot be an ancestor or descendent of either spouse. Additionally, a witness cannot have any financial interest in the marriage or be a party to the marriage license. Finally, a witness must have the capacity to understand the nature and effect of the marriage and the duties of the parties to the marriage. The qualified witness, therefore, must not only understand the sanctity of the marriage, but also understand the responsibility associated with being a witness. A witness who cannot understand the responsibilities associated with the marriage cannot be qualified to be a witness.

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