|
Marriage
Law In Lebanon
Click here
for Divorce in Lebanon
1-How to Get Married in Lebanon?
2-Mixed Marriage
3-Requirements
4-What about Civil Marriage In Lebanon?
1-How to Get Married in
Lebanon?
Lebanon
does not have civil marriage, however the country recognizes civil
marriage which took place outside Lebanese territory.
A project of law was suggested at an earlier date proposing a
facultative civil marriage to couples interested but the outcome
was not positive.
Who is the authority which performs the marriage in Lebanon?
As mentioned, a couple can not get a civil marriage in Lebanon.
However Lebanon recognizes civil marriage held abroad,
In this case the marriage is registered within the competent
office of personal statutes or at the Lebanese embassy or
consulate in the country where it took place.
Marriages held in Lebanon are performed by religious authority and
take place either before Christian or the Muslim competent
authorities. (Priest or Sheikh)
2-Mixed Marriage
Due to Lebanon pluralist and multi confessional society, nothing
prevents a marriage between Muslims and Christians.
However the married couple should abide to the law of the marriage
in all what relates to the marriage present and future effects.
Usually this law is the law of the authority which performed the
marriage.
Sometimes this could result in complex issues related to divorce,
inheritance, custody etc...
Not only an inter-confessional conflict could occur, but as well a
conflict between confessional or spiritual and civil
jurisdiction in case a marriage took place before a civil
authority abroad and a religious marriage...
children are usually given, by law, the father's religion.
Mixed marriage are permitted in Lebanon with the following
remarks:
-A
Sunni or Shia (Muslim) man can marry a Christian or Jewish woman
without her having to convert herself, but a Muslim woman cannot
marry a Christian or a Jew.
-Catholic men can marry a Muslim woman.
In this case the couple receives the blessing at the
sacristy, and the children must be baptized and raised as
Catholics .
-Druze
community only allows inter-Druze wedding...
The same apply for the Israelite community.
-Orthodox
church allows weddings with Muslims under the conversion
condition.
Under Muslim law, polygamy is permitted.
However and nowadays it is regarded as being
impractical and undesirable due to the additional economic burden
and to the complications it brings into the family house.
3-Requirements
Requirements change depending on before which authority the couple
wants to get married.
However a copy of the passports or ID and blood tests are required
for Muslim marriages.
Christians authorities require passports or IDs, birth and baptism
certificates .
In Lebanon, the age of capacity is 18 years for men and 17 for
women.
With guardian permission, the ages are 17 for males and 9 for
women.
For Shi'a, with judicial permission, 15 for males, and 9 for
females.
For Druze, with judicial permission, 16 for males and 15 for
females. This can vary due to differences in religion-based laws.
Fees for marriage in Lebanon vary according to the marriage nature
and place.
4-What about
Civil Marriage In Lebanon?
Several tries to introduce civil marriage in Lebanon's legal
system have existed since the early 1950s, but they have always
ended up in vain.
In 1998 a reform bill introduced by then Late President Elias Hrawi was passed by Cabinet only to be voted by Late Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri.
Lebanese couples wanting to unite under civil marriage often go to
nearby countries to have their civil marriage performed there...
However the simplest and practical way to deal with that matter
would be to introduce a facultative civil marriage for the
interested couples since Lebanon recognizes the civil marriages
abroad so why not the ones held on Lebanese soil!
Contact
Mattar law firm
|
