Is a Carribean Marriage Valid if the Paperwork was Never Filed?

Full question:

If a U.S. couple marries in the Carribean, doesn't file the necessary paperwork after returning to the U.S., and then decides to terminate the union, is a formal divorce required or any other legal paperwork in the US to terminate the union or can the couple simply part ways with no paperwork required?

  • Category: Marriage
  • Date:
  • State: Missouri

Answer:

The answer will depend on the nature of the paperwork which wasn’t filed and whether or not a marriage license was issued. If the marriage was never legally valid, there would not be a necessity for a divorce. However, you may wish to contact the court clerk where the application for the marriage was filed to inquire about local procedures for removing entries in the court records to avoid confusion.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

Yes, it is generally necessary to register a marriage in the USA to ensure it is legally recognized. Each state has its own requirements for marriage licenses and registration. If a couple marries abroad, they may still need to file certain documents in their home state to validate the marriage and ensure it is recognized under U.S. law.