Married Abroad - Is it legal in Ireland

hatetherain!

I would appreciate any help with this please.

I got married in the Domician Republic, I never registered the marraige in Ireland. Can anyone tell me if the marraige is legally recognised in Ireland?

Thanks!

coylemj

If it was recognised as legal under the civil laws of the country where the ceremony took place, it will be recognised here.

Let me explain the meaning of the word 'civil': If you want a Catholic wedding ceremony and get married in a country like France, you have to get married in a civic office and in a catholic church - the church wedding does not incorporate the civil wedding as it does in Ireland.

I assume the Dominican Republic is a Catholic country so you need to consider if you took care of the civil side of the wedding i.e. if you got married in a Catholic church, did you fill out Government paperwork? If you got married in a civic office by the mayor or some local official then you're definitely covered.

hatetherain!

coylemj wrote: »

If it was recognised as legal under the civil laws of the country where the ceremony took place, it will be recognised here.

Let me explain the meaning of the word 'civil': If you want a Catholic wedding ceremony and get married in a country like France, you have to get married in a civic office and in a catholic church - the church wedding does not incorporate the civil wedding as it does in Ireland.

I assume the Dominican Republic is a Catholic country so you need to consider if you took care of the civil side of the wedding i.e. if you got married in a Catholic church, did you fill out Government paperwork? If you got married in a civic office by the mayor or some local official then you're definitely covered.

Thank you Coylemj for such a detailed reply.
My brother got married in France so I know what you mean about the Civil/Catholic side of things.

We got married in a Beach Resort by a local offical, which was a civil ceremony. As far as I am aware the Dominican Republic is a Catholic country but we did not partake in any religious ceremony.

My reason for the question is that we have now separated and as I never registered the marraige in Ireland - Are we actually legally married here?

Thanks againf or your help!

coylemj

hatetherain! wrote: »

.... as I never registered the marraige in Ireland - Are we actually legally married here?

Yes, you are still married in the eyes of the law in Ireland because you contracted a valid marriage in another country. You do not register a foreign marriage with the Irish authorities, it's only registered in the country where the weddding took place.

This is from the General Register Office website...

Marriages which take place outside the State are normally registered in the country in which they occur and are NOT registered in Ireland. Persons marrying abroad should ensure that all the legal requirements of the country in question are met, and should enquire as to the procedure for obtaining a marriage certificate from that country - the relevant Embassy and/or religious authorities may be able to advise.

The General Register Office has no function in advising on, or in the registration of, marriages which take place outside the State. There is no facility for registering such marriages in the State, and the civil marriage certificate would normally be accepted as the legal proof of the marriage.


Go to this webpage and scroll down to Section 3.2 'Marriage outside Ireland'...

http://www.groireland.ie/getting_married.htm#section3

hatetherain!

Thanks Coylemj ... again!

I never thought to check out the GRO.

Can i ask you if you know if we have to get divorced through the Dominican Republic legal system or through the Irish Courts?

Thanks again:)

coylemj

hatetherain! wrote: »

Thanks Coylemj ... again!

I never thought to check out the GRO.

Can i ask you if you know if we have to get divorced through the Dominican Republic legal system or through the Irish Courts?

Thanks again:)

That can get complicated and you may need legal advice, especially if your partner lives outside Ireland.

If both of you live in Ireland then the logical thing to do is get divorced here, you do not need to get divorced in the DR.

GerardKeating

coylemj wrote: »

If it was recognised as legal under the civil laws of the country where the ceremony took place, it will be recognised here.

Not necessarily,

Some jurisdictions might permit a marriage which is not valid in Ireland, for example, the minimum age in Ireland is 18, it's lower in the Domician Republic (not implying that the OP is under 18)...

There are also restrictions on whom one can marry, for example a man cannot marry his "Sister’s Son’s Wife", again, not wishing to imply that the OP did this...