Under what condition may a state refuse to recognize a marriage from another state?

A state may refuse to recognize a marriage from another state primarily if the marriage violates the state's public policy. Public policy serves as a guiding principle that reflects the fundamental beliefs and values of a state. This means that if a marriage is deemed contrary to these established values—such as marriages that are considered illegal (like polygamous marriages or those involving minors without proper legal exceptions)—a state has the authority to withhold recognition of that marriage, regardless of the legal validity it possesses in the state where it occurred.

The other options do not adequately reflect the conditions under which a state might deny recognition. For example, having children, the lack of registration, or spouses being from different states are not valid reasons for a state to reject a marriage. Marriages that are legally performed in one state typically carry recognition across state lines, except where there are clear violations of public policy. Hence, the integrity of state interests and societal norms surrounding marriage comes into play when evaluating the recognition of out-of-state marriages.