View source for Civil marriage

{{Short description|Marriage performed, recorded, and recognized by a government official}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2010}}
[[File:Edmund Blair Leighton - The Wedding Register.jpg|thumb|[[Edmund Leighton]], ''The Wedding Register''.]]
A '''civil marriage''' is a [[marriage]] performed, recorded, and recognized by a government official.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://marriage.about.com/od/marriagelaws/g/civilmarriage.htm |title=Civil Marriage Definition |publisher=Marriage.about.com |date=2012-04-10 |access-date=2013-03-24 |archive-date=2023-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227020555/https://www.brides.com/story/civil-ceremony-wedding-etiquette-question |url-status=dead }}</ref> Such a marriage may be performed by a [[religion|religious]] body and recognized by the state, or it may be entirely [[secular]], in which it is known as a '''secular marriage'''.

==History==
Countries maintaining a [[Civil registry|population registry]] of its residents keep track of [[marital status]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sconcerns/mar/default.htm |title=Demographic and Social Statistics: Marriage and divorce |website=unstats.un.org }}</ref> and all [[United Nations|United Nations (UN)]] member states except [[Iran]], [[Somalia]], [[South Sudan]], [[Sudan]], and [[Tonga]] have signed or ratified either the United Nations [[Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage, and Registration of Marriages]] (1962)<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/MinimumAgeForMarriage.aspx | title=OHCHR &#124; Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage}}</ref> or the United Nations [[Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women]] (1979) which carry a responsibility to register marriages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wunrn.com/news/2008/08_08/08_04_08/080408_child.htm |title=Child Marriage - Consent to Marriage - CEDAW - UN Convention on Marriage |access-date=2013-03-31 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201715/http://www.wunrn.com/news/2008/08_08/08_04_08/080408_child.htm |archive-date=2013-10-29 }}</ref> Most countries define the conditions of civil marriage separately from religious requirements. Certain states, such as [[Israel]], allow couples to register only on the condition that they have first been married in a religious ceremony recognized by the state, or were married in a different country. 

===In England===
In [[Middle Ages|medieval Europe]], marriage was governed by [[canon law]], which recognized only those marriages where the parties stated they took one another as husband and wife as valid, regardless of the presence or absence of witnesses. It was not necessary, however, to be married by any official or cleric. This institution was canceled in [[England]] with the enactment of the [[Marriage Act 1753]], which required that, in order to be valid and registered, all marriages were to be performed in an official ceremony in a religious setting recognized by the state, i.e. [[Church of England]], [[Religious Society of Friends|the Quakers]], or in a [[Jewish|Jewish ceremony]]. Any other form of marriage was abolished. Children born into unions that were not valid under the act would not automatically [[Inheritance|inherit]] the property or titles of their parents. For historical reasons, the act did not apply in [[Scotland]]. Consequently, until 1940, it continued to be enough in [[Scotland]] for a man and a woman to pledge their commitment to each other in front of witnesses to legalize their marriage. This led to an industry of "fast marriages" in Scottish towns on the border with England; the town of [[Gretna Green]] was particularly well known for this. The [[Marriage Act 1836]] removed the requirement that the ceremony takes place in a religious forum, and [[Register office|registrar]]s have given the authority to register marriages not conducted by a religious official.

===In other European countries===
[[File:A cauple wait for wedding.jpg|thumb|A couple waiting to get married in the town of [[Alghero]] on the island of [[Sardinia]], [[Italy]]]]

Many European countries had institutions similar to [[common-law marriage]]. However, the [[Catholic Church]] forbade [[clandestinity (canon law)|clandestine marriage]] at the [[Fourth Lateran Council]] (1215), which required all marriages to be announced in a church by a priest. In 1566, the edict of the [[Council of Trent]] was proclaimed denying [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholics]] any form of marriage not executed in a religious ceremony before a priest and two witnesses.

The [[Protestant]] pastor and theologian of [[Geneva]], [[John Calvin]], decreed that in order for a couple to be considered married they must be registered by the state in addition to a church ceremony.

In 1792, with the [[French Revolution]], civil marriage was created in [[France]] and made independent from religious marriage which was no more recognised by the French state. In 1802, with the [[Organic Articles]] of the [[Concordat of 1801]], [[Napoleon]], advised by [[Jean-Étienne-Marie Portalis|Portalis]], in order to reconciliate civil and religious marriage in a state-controlled way, stated that religious ceremonies could be performed {{Interlanguage link|obligation of priority of civil marriage over religious marriage|lt=only for couples who had already been married in a civil ceremony|fr|Obligation d'antériorité du mariage civil sur le mariage religieux}}. Napoleon spread this custom throughout most of Europe. In present-day France, only civil marriage has legal validity for the state. A religious ceremony may be performed only after the civil union, and it has no legal effect for the state. Since 1802 in France, religious ministers celebrating religious marriages without preliminary civil marriages risk [[Criminal justice|criminal sanctions]].

In [[Germany]], the [[Napoleonic Code]] was valid only in territories conquered by Napoleon. With the fall of his empire, civil marriage in Germany began to die out. However, certain sovereign German states introduced civil marriages, which were either obligatory (like the French model) or optional, with either a religious or civil ceremony being accepted. Already before 1848, the Grand-Duchy of [[Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach]] enacted optional civil marriages, followed by the German republics of [[Free City of Frankfurt| the Free City of Frankfurt upon Main]] (1850, obligatory), [[Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg]] (1851, optional) and [[Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck]] (1852, optional). German Grand-Duchies such as [[Grand Duchy of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]] (1852/55, optional), [[Grand Duchy of Baden|Baden]] (1860), and [[Grand Duchy of Hesse|Hesse]] (1860) as well as the [[Kingdom of Württemberg]] (1863) followed suit.<ref>Julius Schoeps, "Emanzipation der Herzen – oder: Der Fall Ferdinand Falkson", in: ''PreußenJahrBuch: Ein Alamanch'' [published on the occasion of the Projekt Preussen 2001], Museumspädagogischer Dienst Berlin (MD Berlin) in collaboration with the Landesverband der Museen zu Berlin and Museumsverband des Landes Brandenburg (ed.), Berlin: MD Berlin, 2000, pp. 52–56, here p. 56. {{ISBN|3-930929-12-0}}.</ref> Civil marriages enabled [[interfaith marriage]]s as well as marriages between spouses of different Christian denominations.  After the [[unification of Germany]] in 1871, the [[Reichstag (German Empire)|Reichstag]] adopted a bill initiated by Chancellor [[Otto von Bismarck]] as the "Civil Marriage Law" in 1875 (see: [[Kulturkampf]]); since then, only civil marriages have been recognized in Germany. Religious ceremonies may still be performed at the couple's discretion. Until December 31, 2008, religious marriages could not be performed until the couple had first married in a civil ceremony.

==In the modern world==
{{See also|Marriage law}}
[[File:Marriage law.svg|400px|thumb|right|{{center|'''Civil marriage by country'''}}
{{legend|#00ffffff|State recognizes civil marriages only}}
{{legend|#008000ff|State recognizes both civil and certain religious marriages}}
{{legend|#afdde9ff|State recognizes civil marriages; no additional information}}
{{legend|#ff0000ff|State recognizes religious marriages only}}
{{legend|#ff9955ff|Civil marriages only for foreigners}}
{{legend|#ffff00ff|Civil marriages only for non-Muslims}}
]]

===England and Wales===

Today marriages in England or [[Wales]] must be held in authorized premises, which may include register offices, premises such as stately homes, castles, and hotels that have been approved by the local authority, churches or chapels of the Church of England or [[Church in Wales]], and other churches and religious premises that have been registered by the registrar general for marriage.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.weddingguideuk.com/articles/legal/englandwales.asp | publisher = Wedding Guide UK | type = article | title = Legal | contribution = England and Wales |url-status = dead| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130209043344/http://www.weddingguideuk.com/articles/legal/englandwales.asp | archive-date = 2013-02-09 }}</ref>

Civil marriages require a certificate and at times a license, that testify that the couple is fit for marriage.  A short time after they are approved in the superintendent registrar's office, a short non-religious ceremony takes place which the registrar, the couple, and two witnesses must attend; guests may also be present. Reference must not be made to God or any deity, or to a particular religion or denomination: this is strictly enforced, and readings and music in the ceremony must be agreed upon in advance.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://celebratewithmusic.co.uk/songs-you-cant-have-at-a-civil-ceremony/ | publisher = Wedding Music Designer (Simon Jordan) | type = article | title = Music Not Allowed at Civil Ceremonies | date = 30 August 2015 | contribution = England and Wales}}</ref>

===United States===
[[Marriage in the United States]] is largely regulated by state laws, though the [[SCOTUS|Supreme Court]] has the authority to [[judicial review |strike down unconstitutional law]]s (see ''[[Loving v. Virginia]]'' and ''[[Obergefell v. Hodges]]'').

All states and the [[District of Columbia]], as well as [[U.S. territories]], require a marriage license issued by local [[civil authorities]]. As a rule, [[ministers of religion]] (e.g., [[rabbi]]s or [[pastor]]s) are authorized in law to perform marriages, while such state and  local officials as mayors, judges, [[deputy marriage commissioner]]s, and [[justices of the peace]] are empowered to conduct civil wedding ceremonies, which may take place in public offices. Owing to its [[Quaker]] heritage, many counties in the Commonwealth of [[Pennsylvania]] allow [[self-uniting marriage]]s for which no official minister is required. The type of ceremony (religious or civil) has no bearing on the legal validity of the marriage, and there is no requirement to precede a religious rite with a civil ceremony.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} Marriages performed outside of the United States are legally binding if officially recognized by the government of the country in which they are performed.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

===Countries with mandatory civil marriage===
In most [[Europe]]an and [[Latin America]]n countries there is a civil ceremony requirement. Religious marriages have no legal effect. For some countries, there is an {{Interlanguage link|obligation of priority of civil marriage over religious marriage|lt=obligation of priority of civil marriage over religious marriage|fr|Obligation d'antériorité du mariage civil sur le mariage religieux}}. Such ceremonies, however, only serve to provide religious recognition of the marriage already recognized by the state. In countries such as [[Belgium]] and the [[Netherlands]], most couples marry without any religious ceremony at all.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-29 |title=Legal wedding in Turkey |url=https://blissfulplans.com/getting-married-in-turkey/ }}</ref> Full formal weddings, complete with [[wedding gown]]s and the presence of family and friends, are usually conducted in special ceremonial rooms in the [[town hall]].{{cn|date=February 2025}}

===Countries with no civil marriage===
There is no civil marriage in many [[Middle Eastern]] countries, including [[Jordan]],<ref>{{Citation | url = http://jordan.usembassy.gov/acs_marriage_in_jordan2.html | title = Marriage in Jordan | publisher = Jordan embassy | place = USA |url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111006030656/http://jordan.usembassy.gov/acs_marriage_in_jordan2.html | archive-date = 2011-10-06 }}</ref> [[Palestine]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Qatar]], [[Iran]], [[Lebanon]], and [[Israel]], as well as [[Libya]] and [[Indonesia]];<ref>{{Citation |title=Marriage in Indonesia |url=http://bccvisalaw.com/marriage/marriage_in_indonesia.php |access-date=2011-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103042404/http://bccvisalaw.com/marriage/marriage_in_indonesia.php |archive-date=2011-11-03 |url-status=dead |publisher=BCC Visa Law}}</ref> all marriages are conducted by religious authorities and registered by civil authorities only after having been registered by authorities of officially approved religions or having been registered abroad. Israel and [[Demographics of Lebanon#18 recognized religious groups|Lebanon officially recognize]] [[Islam]], [[Christianity]], [[Druze]], and [[Judaism]] as different religious sects within the legal system; marriage is only possible within the same religion but allowed between different denominations of that religion.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mikdashi |first=Maya |year=2022 |title=Sextarianism: Sovereignty, Secularism, and the State in Lebanon |publisher=Stanford University Press eBooks |doi=10.1515/9781503631564 |isbn=978-150363156-4 }}</ref> In [[Lebanon]], depending on gender and religion, [[Interfaith marriage|interfaith marriages]] are permissible. A Muslim man may marry a Christian or Jewish woman, but a Muslim woman may not marry outside her faith. Druze themselves only permit intrafaith marriages. In Lebanon, gender and religion intersect in legal affairs. This intersection is captured by the concept of [[Sextarianism]], which highlights that sectarian divisions and gender inequalities both are reinforced by personal status laws.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mikdashi |first=Maya |title=Sextarianism: sovereignty, secularism, and the state in Lebanon |date=2022 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-1-5036-3156-4 |location=Stanford, California}}</ref> [[Lebanon]] does recognise civil marriages performed abroad,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marriage Lawyers in Lebanon {{!}} Attorneys Beirut {{!}} |url=http://mattarlaw.com/marriage-in-lebanon/ |access-date=2024-02-28}}</ref> but only if the parties to the marriage physically travel outside of Lebanon, which is unfeasible if they are denied a passport by the [[General Directorate of General Security]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sherry |first=Enass |date=2023-01-10 |title=Lebanon: Civil Marriages Struck Down for the Sake of "Equality" |url=https://english.legal-agenda.com/lebanon-civil-marriages-struck-down-for-the-sake-of-equality/ |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=The Legal Agenda}}</ref> By contact, Israeli law recognizes any marriage conducted abroad, even those officiated [[Marriage in Israel#Recognition of civil marriage|remotely by video conference]] in which the parties do not physically leave Israel. [[Malaysia]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]] allow civil marriage for non-Muslims only,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marriage |url=https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/social-affairs/marriage |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=The Official Portal of the UAE Government}}</ref> while in [[Kuwait]], [[Bahrain]] and [[Afghanistan]]<ref>{{Citation | url = http://kabul.usembassy.gov/marriage.html | title = Marriage in Afghanistan | publisher = Kabul embassy | place = USA |url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110906135737/http://kabul.usembassy.gov/marriage.html | archive-date = 2011-09-06 }}</ref> it is allowed for foreign citizens only.

===Civil marriage and other unions of same-sex couples===
[[File:Wedding party at Town Hall.jpg|thumb|People leaving the town hall of [[Høje-Taastrup]], [[Denmark]] following a civil marriage]]
{{Main|Same-sex marriage}}
{{See also|Civil union|Domestic partnership}}

{{asof|2025|01}}, the following jurisdictions permit same-sex marriages:
* [[Same-sex marriage in Andorra|Andorra]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Argentina|Argentina]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Australia|Australia]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Austria|Austria]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Belgium|Belgium]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Brazil|Brazil]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Canada|Canada]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Chile|Chile]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Costa Rica|Costa Rica]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Colombia|Colombia]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Cuba|Cuba]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Denmark|Denmark]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Ecuador|Ecuador]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Estonia|Estonia]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Finland|Finland]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in France|France]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Germany|Germany]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Greece|Greece]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Iceland|Iceland]]
* [[Same sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Luxembourg|Luxembourg]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Malta|Malta]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Mexico|Mexico]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands|Netherlands]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in New Zealand|New Zealand]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Norway|Norway]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Portugal|Portugal]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Slovenia|Slovenia]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in South Africa|South Africa]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Spain|Spain]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Sweden|Sweden]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Switzerland|Switzerland]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Taiwan|Taiwan]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Thailand|Thailand]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dysk.onet.pl/file_download/ojqCz |title=Archived copy |website=dysk.onet.pl |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104233805/https://dysk.onet.pl/file_download/ojqCz |archive-date=4 January 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 
* [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|United States]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Uruguay|Uruguay]]
* [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Israel|Israel]] recognizes same-sex marriage performed abroad<ref>[http://israelinsider.com/Articles1/Politics/9915.htm Israel's Supreme Court approves same-sex marriages performed abroad] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930142016/http://israelinsider.com/Articles1/Politics/9915.htm |date=September 30, 2011 }} Israel Insider, November 21, 2006</ref> 
* [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Armenia|Armenia]] recognizes same-sex marriage performed abroad

In 22 countries worldwide and in several jurisdictions within Mexico, a same-sex couple can be legally partnered in a [[civil union]], [[domestic partnership]] or [[registered partnership]]. Couples in these unions or partnerships are afforded rights and obligations similar to, but not identical to, those of a married couple.

==See also==
*[[Civil union]]
*[[Common-law marriage]]
*[[Domestic partnership]]
*[[Same-sex marriage]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book|last=van Eijk|first=Esther|title=Family Law in Syria: Patriarchy, Pluralism and Personal Status Laws|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|year=2016|isbn=9781786730190}}

==External links==
* {{Commonscat-inline}}

{{Types of marriages|state=autocollapse}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Civil Marriage}}

[[Category:Family law]]
[[Category:Types of marriage]]