A Divorce Attorney can help you identify whether your marriage Certificate is recognized by law or not. For a marriage certificate to be recognized by law, such a marriage must be statutory. A statutory marriage is one done in accordance with the provisions of the Matrimonial Causes Act.
The most important requirement for a statutory marriage is the existence of the marriage Certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriages.
It therefore follows that any marriage which is celebrated without the issuance of a Marriage Certificate by the Registrar of Marriages is not recognized under the Nigerian Law.
It is not unusual for couples to be issued with a Certificate by the Church after their union is blessed. However, if the said certificate is not issued by the Registrar of Marriages from the Marriage Registry of that locality, or by a Church licensed to issue such a Certificate under the law, then such a Certificate is a worthless piece of document in the eyes of the law. Such a marriage is not recognized as a marriage contracted under the Law.
For the law to recognize a marriage as valid, a marriage certificate must be issued by the Marriage Registry or a licensed place of worship, without which such a marriage is a mere celebration without any legal backing.
For the avoidance of doubt, the certificate on the left is a mere certificate of celebration issued by the Church and is not recognized by law while the certificate on the right is the proper certificate issued either by a place of Worship licensed to so issue or by the Marriage Registry of that Locality. This is the certificate recognized by law.
We provide family law services
CONTACT US via telephone call or whatsapp on 0708 424 1826 or send an email to info@thejubileelegal.com
