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  #1  
Old 01-30-2012, 07:39 PM
johngross johngross is offline
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Default Am I legally married?

My wife and I got married a few months ago at her mothers home in Central America. We are both US Citizens and long time Florida residents. I've contacted both my County Court House and the Florida Attorney General to make sure that our marriage is recognized in Florida. No response from either one after several weeks.

Anyone here been married in a foreign country and needed to have your marriage "verified" in the US? Any other suggestions who/what agency I can contact in Florida?

Thanks,

John and Veronica

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  #2  
Old 01-30-2012, 07:55 PM
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Yes you are married. A good friend of mine married a girl in Reo. It was 30 years ago but I do remember be complained about paperwork.
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Old 01-30-2012, 08:00 PM
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First of all congratulations.

You are both American citizens,
You should go to the court house and get a legal USA wedding and save yourselves a lot of hassles.
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Old 01-30-2012, 08:14 PM
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I was married in Japan to a Japanese national. Procedure I followed, which is typical I believe for Americans marrying abroad, is following registration with the Japanese government, I registered the marriage at the US Embassy. Maybe call up the State Department and ask? Or call up the US Embassy in the country that you were married in and ask their opinion/guidance.
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  #5  
Old 01-30-2012, 08:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeathGrip View Post
First of all congratulations.

You are both American citizens,
You should go to the court house and get a legal USA wedding and save yourselves a lot of hassles.
Yep - You can marry THE SAME WOMAN over and over if it makes you (more likely her) happy.
Shouldn't be but a few bucks at your local court house.
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Old 01-30-2012, 08:26 PM
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If it was a legal marriage in the other country, you ARE legally married here. No need to do anything else. Don't even waste time and money getting your wife a new passport until the current one expires. Not necessary. Congratulations on the new tax deduction, I mean wife.
Dennis (retired Immigration Officer)
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Old 01-30-2012, 08:36 PM
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Really funny. We've been married almost 42 years now, and no one has ever required us to prove it. She even carried the license along with us in the past. We couldn't carry it on the honeymoon because the priest still had it. She worried the entire time, afraid the Police would break down the motel room door and arrest us for sinning without proof. And when we filed our taxes that first year, she was certain we would need to attach some kind of copies. No one cared. If you say you're married, you are.
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Old 01-30-2012, 08:46 PM
oldman45 oldman45 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rburg View Post
Really funny. We've been married almost 42 years now, and no one has ever required us to prove it. She even carried the license along with us in the past. We couldn't carry it on the honeymoon because the priest still had it. She worried the entire time, afraid the Police would break down the motel room door and arrest us for sinning without proof. And when we filed our taxes that first year, she was certain we would need to attach some kind of copies. No one cared. If you say you're married, you are.
Actually, I have been required to prove I was married many times. Sadly, I wished I wasn't.

When I retired in 1989, I had to furnish a certified copy of my marriage certificate to my employer.

When I had to get a security clearance in 1991, I had to provide a certified copy of my marriage license.

When I retired the last time in 2004, I had to furnish a copy of my marriage license.

When I applied for a CCW in Louisiana in 1997, I had to produce my divorce papers and then show who I was married to and when.

Now when I retire again in 2014, I do not think they will care if I am married or not.
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Old 01-30-2012, 08:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rburg View Post
Really funny. We've been married almost 42 years now, and no one has ever required us to prove it. She even carried the license along with us in the past. We couldn't carry it on the honeymoon because the priest still had it. She worried the entire time, afraid the Police would break down the motel room door and arrest us for sinning without proof. And when we filed our taxes that first year, she was certain we would need to attach some kind of copies. No one cared. If you say you're married, you are.
Exactly correct.
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Old 01-30-2012, 08:57 PM
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Apparently, it is outside the experience of most forum members to have run afoul of the Mann Act...
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Old 01-30-2012, 09:02 PM
Damn Yankee Damn Yankee is offline
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This forum is just like Wikipedia, ask a question and it gets answered.
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  #12  
Old 01-30-2012, 09:27 PM
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First of all . . . Congratulations John & Veronica!
May you enjoy a lifetime of loving one another.


In our mid 50's, my wife and I have only been married for 12 years; Previous marriages for both of us.

Some time ago, my wife asked me what had been the biggest disappointment in my life.

It didn't take me long to tell her that it was that I would only be married to her one time. But that if it was possible, I'd marry her over and over again.
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  #13  
Old 01-30-2012, 09:47 PM
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The USA accepts most foreign marriages as legal here. Add to that they are both US citizens. The problems are when there's foreign assets and a divorce happens here but is not recognized in said foreign country. Let the games begin.....
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  #14  
Old 01-30-2012, 09:56 PM
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yes, you are married here and there. although, alot of hoops to go through. do yourself a favor and got to the local courthouse and "get married". Alot easier for all involved in the end!
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  #15  
Old 01-30-2012, 10:04 PM
Walter Rego Walter Rego is offline
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I got married in Mexico City. My (ex) wife had dual citizenship. But we also had a civil ceremony within a couple of weeks at the courthouse here in CA. It was early on a Saturday morning and after it was over she went shopping with a friend and I went to a gun show. Not a bad idea to go online in your city and see what the procedure and fees are for a quick civil ceremony too.
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  #16  
Old 01-30-2012, 10:04 PM
m1gunner m1gunner is offline
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If it was one of those street weddings during Carnival, and the preacher looked like Elvis.....You might have a problem.



Congrats!
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  #17  
Old 01-30-2012, 10:07 PM
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yeah just do like my mother and father did all of those years ago and go to a courthouse or whatever it was an have it say your officially married for the records and I believe that was about 40 years ago by now.

after all you already had your own official marrage already in that country, now all you need to do is have someone in the books here write hey were married here too lol


anyways regardless of the stupid legal cockup on their part congratulations.

Last edited by Kavinsky; 01-30-2012 at 10:09 PM.
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  #18  
Old 01-30-2012, 11:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeathGrip View Post
First of all congratulations.

You are both American citizens,
You should go to the court house and get a legal USA wedding and save yourselves a lot of hassles.
I agree with this. Why not do this and avoid future problems. Seems easy to me.

James
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  #19  
Old 01-31-2012, 12:23 AM
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july 1967, bedford, england uk........bride a uk citizen...groom an american.... british marriage license issued.

today still married, very much in love and happy with a great family.

im a lucky guy and yes, you two are married.....best of luck.

Last edited by vytoland; 01-31-2012 at 12:25 AM.
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  #20  
Old 01-31-2012, 01:03 AM
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Our embassy in Guatemala says you've got nothing to worry about: Marriage of U.S. Citizens in Guatemala | Embassy of the United States Guatemala
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  #21  
Old 01-31-2012, 07:01 AM
MaricopaKid MaricopaKid is offline
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I would consult a good attorney. You may be able to get out of it. Good luck!
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  #22  
Old 01-31-2012, 07:07 AM
oldman45 oldman45 is offline
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A question on this matter..

If you marry outside the US and then come to the US and marry again without getting a divorce, would you be a bigamist?
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  #23  
Old 01-31-2012, 07:09 AM
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You are married, but:

"No one cared. If you say you're married, you are"

If one of you dies, and the other applies for Social Security Survivors benefits, proof will be needed.

So hang on to the documents, as getting them from a foreign country can be time consuming.
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  #24  
Old 01-31-2012, 10:29 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jkc View Post
Apparently, it is outside the experience of most forum members to have run afoul of the Mann Act...
Not all of us
The captain of a vessel is empowered to perform shipboard marriages. This has come in very handy way back when on lake Pontchartrain on several occasions. The marriage is totally valid for the duration of the voyage.
Trust me on this one-I'm a lawyer.
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Old 01-31-2012, 10:33 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldman45 View Post
When I applied for a CCW in Louisiana in 1997, I had to produce my divorce papers and then show who I was married to and when.
Hmmmmm........
Sounds like they have a ready-made list of "the usual suspects"......
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  #26  
Old 01-31-2012, 01:17 PM
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Quote:
Am I legally married?
Do you want to be?

bob
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  #27  
Old 01-31-2012, 06:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rburg View Post
Really funny. We've been married almost 42 years now, and no one has ever required us to prove it. She even carried the license along with us in the past. We couldn't carry it on the honeymoon because the priest still had it. She worried the entire time, afraid the Police would break down the motel room door and arrest us for sinning without proof. And when we filed our taxes that first year, she was certain we would need to attach some kind of copies. No one cared. If you say you're married, you are.
It was 1974...my mother-in-law insisted we had to go get the marriage license from my parents home before we left on our honeymoon. She was absolutely positive we could not get a motel room without it.
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  #28  
Old 01-31-2012, 07:02 PM
ImprovedModel56Fan ImprovedModel56Fan is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mtheo View Post
It was 1974...my mother-in-law insisted we had to go get the marriage license from my parents home before we left on our honeymoon. She was absolutely positive we could not get a motel room without it.
A good friend of mine had his honeymoon spoiled by a house dick (in the late sixties, I believe) because he didn't have the benefit of your mother-in-law's advice. Don't believe that he followed up with a lawsuit, either. Obviously, this stuff doesn't happen now, but those old folks weren't dreaming this up.
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Old 01-31-2012, 09:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Model520Fan View Post
A good friend of mine had his honeymoon spoiled by a house dick (in the late sixties, I believe) because he didn't have the benefit of your mother-in-law's advice. Don't believe that he followed up with a lawsuit, either. Obviously, this stuff doesn't happen now, but those old folks weren't dreaming this up.

Don't think I would a had that problem
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Old 01-31-2012, 10:19 PM
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Reminds me of the story of a young man and woman from Okrahoma who went to Texas A&M. They were taking some the same classes in Animal Husbandry and fell in Love. The decided to get married and as they were of legal age they had no problem doing so in Malfunction Junction (College Station).
They had been married a few years, graduated and moved back to Okrahoma to work. Well, one thing let to another and they ended up getting divorced. The main question they had since they were married in Texas but had been divorced in Okrahoma was "were they still brother and sister?"

Rule 303
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Old 02-01-2012, 12:48 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Model520Fan View Post
A good friend of mine had his honeymoon spoiled by a house dick (in the late sixties, I believe) because he didn't have the benefit of your mother-in-law's advice. Don't believe that he followed up with a lawsuit, either. Obviously, this stuff doesn't happen now, but those old folks weren't dreaming this up.
So, someone's experience does include running afoul of the Mann Act --- something which I have so far avoided, mostly by not violating it...
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Old 02-01-2012, 02:33 PM
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Quote:
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So, someone's experience does include running afoul of the Mann Act --- something which I have so far avoided, mostly by not violating it...
Chuck Berry.
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  #33  
Old 02-01-2012, 09:09 PM
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We went to Jamaica and got married in 2005. When we came back to the states we took the marriage certificate to all the places that needed something changed (bank, DMV, social security office, etc.) and did the name changes, signature cards, etc. No problems anywhere, I guess it's pretty common these days.
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Old 02-01-2012, 09:36 PM
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Between you, your wife and God you are married.

But how do you or your prove it if it becomes necessary?

For example, if your wife wants to change her name a marraige certificate/license will help.

On a more morbid note, if one of you becomes incapacitated, God forbid, how will the other show the hospital/doctor that they are entitled to visit and make decisions?

Proof of marrraige can also be important for inheritance, especially if the deceased dies intestate (without a will).
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