Married in Mauritius - do we need to get it attested in the UK to make it legal here?

Emanef

Hi all

We got married nearly three years ago in Mauritius. We didn't need to get a license, etc from the UK as we were advised we didn't need one.

We've now moved back to the UK and wanted to make sure; is our marriage legally recognised here, or do we need to get it attested?

If so, presumably it'll need to be at the Mauritius embassy in London?

Thanks!

Edit: We're both English, btw!

Gigervamp

I would have thought that your local registry office would be able to answer this question. Give them a ring.

Emanef

That seems far too obvious.... thanks, I'll give them a try!

Gigervamp

Sometimes things are so obvious, we're blind to them!

Hope you find the answer.

alexadams88

marriage overseas is not recognized until and unless it is notarized and certified by other government bodies. You definitely need to visit your local registrar and fill up some forms.

Emanef

Thanks alexaams. I've just tried calling the local office but after a number levels of options and messages it went through to a message saying to call back later....

We move in a few weeks so I'll go into the local office and see what they need. We went to the government offices in Mauritius to get the license but I guess it's making sure the UK recognise it. I've emailed the Mauritius embassy in London as well, whether or not they bother to reply though.....!

TonyMMM

alexadams88 wrote: »

marriage overseas is not recognized until and unless it is notarized and certified by other government bodies. You definitely need to visit your local registrar and fill up some forms.

Completely wrong -

The rule is that if the marriage was legal in the country in which it took place, and all local laws complied with, then it is regarded as legal here. Whoever arranged your wedding in Mauritius should have been advising on the legal requirements and checking that any necessary licences or paperwork was in place.

There is no facility to register a foreign marriage in this country. A marriage certificate from the country concerned is all you need. There did used to be an option to deposit a copy of the foreign marriage certificate with the General Register Office here, but that was stopped some years ago.

It is quite common for couples to arrange a "wedding" abroad which they know won't be legal, usually because they can't meet the various residence requirements, so in those cases they may choose to marry at a register office in the UK before or after their foreign ceremony.

boots_babe

alexadams88 wrote: »

marriage overseas is not recognized until and unless it is notarized and certified by other government bodies. You definitely need to visit your local registrar and fill up some forms.

That's not true, we got married in Finland and of course checked out the legalities at the time, and no additional process was needed in order for it to be legally recognised here in the UK.

Emanef

OK, thanks for the further replies guys, so do we need to do anything at all, or is our Mauritius (with the stamp from the local authority) all we need to confirm we are married?

whiskydog

Hello, I was married in Mauritius in 1992 and I can confirm the marriage is legal in the UK. All we had to do was be resident in Mauritius for so many days, sign some legal Mauritian paperwork and then have the ceremony which was presided over by a government official.

TonyMMM

Emanef wrote: »

OK, thanks for the further replies guys, so do we need to do anything at all, or is our Mauritius (with the stamp from the local authority) all we need to confirm we are married?

There is nothing else you can do. Your marriage didn't take place in the UK, so no record of it will be made here.

If it complied with the law in Mauritius, then you are fine. Whatever certificate they provided is your proof of the marriage.