declaring marriage to the moroccan consulate.

[Bosco 1]

What's the reason / advantage to declaring your marriage? I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, just wondering what good it will do.

Sharon,

Basically, declaring your marriage makes you recognized as his wife under Moroccan law.

It protects your rights regarding child custody, inheritance, divorce -- any of the things that pertain to wives under family law (Moudawana). For example, if your husband has property in Morocco name, say something he inherited, and he passes away, you will have no rights to inheritance unless your marriage is "recognized". Inheritance follows Islamic law. Declaring your marriage is probably most important if you will ever live in Morocco because than it would dictate child custody too.

It can only be declared if it meets the Moudawana requirements which are essentially those of an Islamic marriage.

Rebecca

[Jenn! 918]

It can only be declared if it meets the Moudawana requirements which are essentially those of an Islamic marriage.

Rebecca

So does that mean you must have been married in a mosque?

[Bosco 1]

It can only be declared if it meets the Moudawana requirements which are essentially those of an Islamic marriage.

Rebecca

So does that mean you must have been married in a mosque?

Jenn,

I was married in a mosque, so our marriage meets the requirements. However, my reading of the law is that a civil marriage in which the two witnesses were Muslim would meet the requirements also.

Rebecca

[Jenn! 918]

It can only be declared if it meets the Moudawana requirements which are essentially those of an Islamic marriage.

Rebecca

So does that mean you must have been married in a mosque?

Jenn,

I was married in a mosque, so our marriage meets the requirements. However, my reading of the law is that a civil marriage in which the two witnesses were Muslim would meet the requirements also.

Rebecca

Seems we won't meet the requirements, then. We're planning a trip to Morocco around XMas time. Do you think we would be able to have some sort of ceremony then after which we could register the marriage?

[Bosco 1]

It can only be declared if it meets the Moudawana requirements which are essentially those of an Islamic marriage.

Rebecca

So does that mean you must have been married in a mosque?

Jenn,

I was married in a mosque, so our marriage meets the requirements. However, my reading of the law is that a civil marriage in which the two witnesses were Muslim would meet the requirements also.

Rebecca

Seems we won't meet the requirements, then. We're planning a trip to Morocco around XMas time. Do you think we would be able to have some sort of ceremony then after which we could register the marriage?

My interpretation would be if you had an Islamic marriage, even at a mosque here, and included that with your civil certificate, it would be recognized. Again, that is just my take on it.

We received two marriage certificates, actually three. We have the civil one, which was also conducted at a mosque using the same witnesses we did for our Islamic marriage, and we have two Islamic marriage certificates, one in Arabic and one in English. It would seem to me that including an Islamic certificate in addition to the civil one would cover their requirements.

Big headache to get your marriage recognized, isn't it??? and they make you pay

Rebecca

[UmmSqueakster 54]

It protects your rights regarding child custody, inheritance, divorce -- any of the things that pertain to wives under family law (Moudawana). For example, if your husband has property in Morocco name, say something he inherited, and he passes away, you will have no rights to inheritance unless your marriage is "recognized". Inheritance follows Islamic law. Declaring your marriage is probably most important if you will ever live in Morocco because than it would dictate child custody too.

Let me just re-emphasize this point for anyone who's planning on living in the ME. I know a lady via one of my wives of egyptians yahoo groups. She was religiously married to an egyptian man, living in egypt. They had several children together. However, their marriage was never registered. Her husband died suddenly, and she was shocked to find herself in a battle with her inlaws re: the custody of her kids, her husband's property, their apartment, etc. I do believe she retained custody of her kids, but for more than a year, it looked like her in laws were going to get everything. It's absolutely essential to take every legal recourse to protect yourself when moving abroad, and even if one doesn't think they'll move abroad now, it can't hurt to do what you can at the present, in case circumstances change in the future.

[Jenn! 918]

It can only be declared if it meets the Moudawana requirements which are essentially those of an Islamic marriage.

Rebecca

So does that mean you must have been married in a mosque?

Jenn,

I was married in a mosque, so our marriage meets the requirements. However, my reading of the law is that a civil marriage in which the two witnesses were Muslim would meet the requirements also.

Rebecca

Seems we won't meet the requirements, then. We're planning a trip to Morocco around XMas time. Do you think we would be able to have some sort of ceremony then after which we could register the marriage?

My interpretation would be if you had an Islamic marriage, even at a mosque here, and included that with your civil certificate, it would be recognized. Again, that is just my take on it.

We received two marriage certificates, actually three. We have the civil one, which was also conducted at a mosque using the same witnesses we did for our Islamic marriage, and we have two Islamic marriage certificates, one in Arabic and one in English. It would seem to me that including an Islamic certificate in addition to the civil one would cover their requirements.

Big headache to get your marriage recognized, isn't it??? and they make you pay

Rebecca

Thanks for all the info, Rebecca! One more quick question....Are we permitted to have an Islamic marriage given that I am non-muslim?

[Bosco 1]

Thanks for all the info, Rebecca! One more quick question....Are we permitted to have an Islamic marriage given that I am non-muslim?

Yes, although you are supposed to belong to one of the monotheistic faiths (Christianity, Judaism) and they may ask.

Rebecca

[kerewin21 2]

Did anyone look into this, what you would do if you've been married more than 3 months? I think it's a VERY good idea to get the marriage registered. Not that I'm anticipating any problems, but what if something bad happened and I had no rights to joint property I have with my husband in Morocco or our future children (inshallah)? I definitely want to be legally recognized.

It looks like getting your marriage recognized if it took place outside of Morocco is a tough job...

http://www.wafin.com/mbureaucracy.phtml

I emailed the consulate to ask for more questions since they aren't answering their phone at the moment. I'll let you know what I find out (if anything)

Edited June 14, 2006 by kerewin21

[Alidriss 0]

Im getting the documents together to send to the Morrocan consulate in New York to declare our marriage. I cant remember if it was Rebecca that mentioned this...but im wondering if you all think they want (or any of you that have done this allready), original birth certificates/ certified copies..or can i just send a photo copy? what did you all do? I emailed them but they have yet to reply.

thanks as always,

Sarah

HI Sarah, I would be interested to know how you got on with your quest as I am about to embark on the journey to marry my boyfriend who lives in Oujda.I am currently collecting information regarding this matter,if you could help me in any way i would be very greatfull. I live in Devon Uk.

Many thanks Ali.

[AlHayatZween 2]

Dear all,

i am totally lost on this...

we had planned on declaring our marriage w/ the consulate for all reasons listed above, but were under the impression that my husband had to register for a "consular card" first. we did that... 5 months ago... and the consulate still hasn't sent us anything. we call, we e-mail, but have received nothing. (i know they received the package b/c i sent it priority mail w/ a tracking number.)

any advice?

likewise, we were married civilly and religiously here in the US in a mosque, but the imam told us we didn't need a paper for the consulate, so now we have no proof of the witnesses!

i am at a total loss.

has anyone had any luck actually speaking w/ someone from the consulate on the phone?

thanks so much for your help,

hz

Edited March 3, 2009 by AlHayatZween

[MrsAmera 41]

I have but that is at the embassy/consulate here in the DC. Maybe try calling them and let them know you have been unable to get any response from NYC in x number of months. You may just want to go there to the actual office - I've had the best luck that way.

Edited March 3, 2009 by MrsAmera

[rclouse 0]

We went through this. My wife (the then-Moroccan) hated it, and the Consulate.

Anyway, she called them and they gave us a list of things we needed. What I can remember off the top of my head was our US marriage certificate, my conversion letter, and the letter we got from a mosque stating we were "Islamically" married. And money, in a money order (forget how much). We FedExed the stuff there, then they USPS Expressed it back to us after a couple weeks on our dime. Now we have a shiny piece of paper we can show to idiot hotel clerks so we can stay in a room together over there.

[AlHayatZween 2]

We went through this. My wife (the then-Moroccan) hated it, and the Consulate.

Anyway, she called them and they gave us a list of things we needed. What I can remember off the top of my head was our US marriage certificate, my conversion letter, and the letter we got from a mosque stating we were "Islamically" married. And money, in a money order (forget how much). We FedExed the stuff there, then they USPS Expressed it back to us after a couple weeks on our dime. Now we have a shiny piece of paper we can show to idiot hotel clerks so we can stay in a room together over there.

I have but that is at the embassy/consulate here in the DC. Maybe try calling them and let them know you have been unable to get any response from NYC in x number of months. You may just want to go there to the actual office - I've had the best luck that way.

Thanks, MrsAmera...

i am at my wits end... my husband on the other hand is much calmer about the whole thing.

i don't think he realizes what a pain in the butt the whole thing is going to be once we go back to Morocco inchallah.

i will keep trying...

hz

[MrsAmera 41]

Yes mine was the same way until the end - now he's just as frustrated as I am! Also if you don't get the marriage registered before you have a child it gets even more messy.

Edited March 3, 2009 by MrsAmera