Getting married in another country legally

Can you get married if already in another country? Can I perform a marriage in another country? Is a marriage abroad valid in the U. In general, marriages which are legally performed and valid abroad are also legally valid.

Who May Perform Marriages Abroad.

American diplomatic and consular officers are NOT permitted to perform. Some of the requirements you might encounter are: Parties must be resident in that country for a specified period of time before a marriage may be performed there. Minimum age for the parties who are being married.

Documents certifying the end of any previous. Department of State, marriages performed abroad are locally valid marriages , provided that they comply with all applicable laws of the foreign city, state, and country where they take place. For example, if you marry in the Bahamas, your marriage will be legally recognized there as long as you met all the marriage requirements under Bahamian law. The documentation may also need to be translated into the countries own spoken language (for a fee).

See full list on family.

Getting Married in another Country ? What are the Legal Consequences? This type of marriage may seem awfully romantic and appealing, but can turn quickly sour when questions regarding the matrimonial property regime of the parties are raised at divorce or death. Planning to get married in another country ? International marriage laws can vary greatly. Foreign countries may require parental consent, residency and affidavits of eligibility to marry.

If you plan to marry abroa be sure to research that country ’s marital laws. Consular officers may authenticate foreign marriage documents. The fee for authentication of a document is approximately $32. The correct term for this illegal act is bigamy. The law states that marriage is a legal contract, but by marrying again, you are effectively breaking your first contract of marriage and then entering into the second contract illegally.

You cannot get married at a Canadian embassy or consulate in a foreign country. Canadian consular officials do not perform marriage ceremonies, and they do not have to attend your marriage. Marriages that are legally performed in a foreign country are usually valid in Canada, and you do not need to register them in Canada.

Marrying a citizen of another country may automatically make you a citizen of that country. For more information, contact the nearest Canadian government office abroad or see our Travelling as a dual citizenpage. Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, they are not recognized in many countries.

Same-sex civil unions are more widely recognized. For country-specific information, read our Travel Advice and Advisories, contact the destination country’s embassy, high commission or consulate in Canada or see Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and two-spirit Canadians abroad. Be cautious when you go abroad to meet a marriage partner, especially if the relationship began online.

A potential partner may consider marriage to a Canadian citizen as a ticket to an immigrant visa. Many Canadians have quit their jobs, given up their homes and sold all their belongings in anticipation of an overseas union that immediately fails or never occurs. Learn about the customs and laws on relationships and marriage in the country where the marriage will take place before you leave Canada. The documents you will need to get married outside of Canada will depend on your circumstances and the country where you plan to get married.

You should carefully safeguard your airline tickets, money and passport. Before you travel, please contact the embassy, high commission, or consulateof the country where you plan to get married to determine what documents you will need. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident planning to marry abroa local authorities may ask for documents such as a: 1. You may need to have the documents translated into the language of the country where the marriage will take place. Officials at the nearest Canadian government office abroadcan provide you with a list of local lawyers, shelters and social services (if available) that can help. We can offer services if you need help returning to Canada, are concerned about fair treatment under a country’s laws, or need help in a foreign country.

Growing numbers of Canadian citizens are caught up in marriage-related crime or fraud overseas. Canadians have been extorted by foreign in-laws, caught up in scams involving cyber-romance, or duped into sponsoring a spouse who bolts after arriving in Canada. If this happens to you, you will need to hire a lawyer with expertise in matrimonial law.

Polygamous marriages are not legal in Canada and are an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada. In Canada, it is also a crime to force anyone, whether a child or an adult, to marry. It is also a crime to take anyone under the age of out of Canada to force him or her to marry in another country.

In some countries, a husband can lawfully impose travel restrictions on his wife and children and preventing them from returning to Canada. Local laws may also allow him to retain the woman’s passport and assets, even if the two are divorced. For most countries the answer to this question will be “Yes”. Yes, your marriage will be legally recognised but wedding abroad legal requirements do vary from country to country.

In most countries the legal requirements are relatively straightforward and are not as difficult as you may first think. But if you’re set on really getting married abroa here are the requirements for three popular overseas wedding destinations: Mexico, Jamaica and Italy. As the world is getting smaller and smaller and is easier to travel between countries, an “international wedding” becomes a greater reality for many couples. No paperwork was filed – Answered by a verified Immigration Lawyer We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. The only caveat is that the foreign marriage must be valid pursuant to the laws of the country where it occurre according to the American Bar Association Section of Family Law.

For any marriage, both parties need to be present at the time of application. In order to not be recorded as being married to two different people each living in a different county you simply avoid recording it in your home country. I have been married to different women each living in a different county in the past by simply never recording those marriage in my home country.

Because your marriage license will not transfer from one state to another, you’ll need to have the required documents prepared when you go in person to apply for the license. Typically, a marriage license is not hard to get when you do not hold residency in the same state as your ceremony, but there are a few things you should be prepared for. Once the couple is marrie the bride (or even the groom) might choose to change her last name to that of her new spouse. This does not happen automatically, of course. Even couples from outside the United States can be married in Las Vegas.

The Nevada Secretary of State can send the Apostille directly to your government for you.