MARRIAGES are usually governed by the laws of the place of celebration. In the Philippines, the Family Code deals with the validity, invalidity, and termination of local marriages. Despite these laws, some people “invent” their own marriage laws, based on gossip, rumors, hearsay, or statements from friends, relatives or barangay captains. However, this can be dangerous, as the USCIS and Embassy follow the official laws on marriage in the Family Code, not the “laws” that you create or invent.
Here are some typical rationalizations people offer, why their marriage is valid or invalid, despite the Family Code:
My father-in-law “forced” me to marry his daughter. Therefore, the marriage is not valid. While sometimes a marriage can be annulled due to fraud, duress, or mistake, the “forced” party must take immediate legal steps to annul the marriage. Any person who continues living with his or her spouse for many years, has children, celebrate anniversaries, etc., cannot claim later that he or she was “forced.” It is difficult to reconcile a lengthy marriage with an alleged lack of consent based on force or duress.
I haven’t seen my spouse in several years, so he must be presumed dead, and I am automatically “single,” and free to remarry. While there is a law in the Family Code concerning “presumptive death,” it is not something that happens automatically. You still have to go to court, and obtain a judgment declaring the marriage terminated because the spouse may be presumed dead, based on his absence, unknown whereabouts (despite good faith search), and total lack of communication and contact. And even a “presumptive death” court decree is no guarantee. I know of several cases where people used this presumptive death basis and even obtain a court decree. However, the Embassy investigated, and found out that the “dearly departed” spouse was very much alive, and the spouse who obtained the court decree was in regular contact with that “dead” spouse. If your spouse is alive, your “presumptive death” termination of marriage will not work or be accepted by the Embassy.
My former spouse has already remarried and has another family. Therefore, I can remarry now. Unless you or your spouse obtained a court decree terminating your marriage (annulment/divorce), you are not free to remarry. If no court-ordered termination of your marriage was obtained, your spouse is committing bigamy. That doesn’t entitle you to also commit bigamy. When your former spouse married a second time, he or she may not have disclosed to the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) he or she had an existing marriage, and so was able to obtain a marriage license. That doesn’t make that second marriage legal, nor would it terminate your existing marriage.
I obtained a church annulment, so I may remarry. While a church annulment may be acceptable for religious purposes, you need a court annulment to legally terminate your marriage for US immigration purposes. A church annulment would not be recognized for immigration purposes. Therefore, if you had only a church annulment of your first marriage, and then married a U.S. citizen, the marriage to the citizen may not be recognized for U.S. immigration purposes.
I was promised that the marriage contract would not be recorded. Therefore, even though it was recorded, I should still be considered “unmarried.” Many people believe they can obtain a marriage license, go through a ceremony, say “I do,” but somehow remain “single,” because a well-connected relative or friend promised that the marriage contract would not be recorded. However, by law, if you satisfied the legal requirements of the marriage (marriage license, ceremony, solemnizing officer with authority to perform weddings, etc.), then you would be considered legally married, notwithstanding the relative or friend’s “promise” not to record the marriage contract. Even if a marriage contract is not recorded, it does not affect the marriage’s validity and you could still be considered legally married.
The above are only a few of the excuses or rationalizations that people give as to why they believe they are single despite a marriage, or their marriage has been properly terminated. Relying on myths and misconceptions could have devastating effects. For example, if you were petitioned by an immigrant parent as “single” but you were married, your petition is void. Reliance on the fact that the marriage contract was not supposed to be recorded does not erase the fact that you are married. If you are married to your first spouse, and then marry a second spouse (who is a U.S. citizen), but you have not properly terminated your first marriage, the citizen cannot petition you, as you are not legally married to the citizen. It doesn’t matter that your first spouse may have already married someone else.
That is why it is important that you seek the advice of a reputable attorney, who can analyze your situation and guide you according to laws that are “on the books”, as opposed to mythical laws, made up by friends, relatives, gossip, rumors, or misconceptions.
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Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.
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