Hello house,
I got married in 2012 (arranged marriage). I had traditional and white wedding the same day.
Here's the issue, I left him about 3 months later and we had the traditional marriage annuled (the igbo way. My family returned all the things they brought when they married me and they returned the things my family gave me when I went to his house. In the presence of the elders)
Its over 4 years now and he's already remarried.
Now I left the country and I'm about to remarry and I'm a little confused (I'm marrying a foreigner now and immigration can be very thorough with their checks). Is church wedding legally binding?
We never went to a registry or anything like that but we had the Catholic white wedding. I don't have an annulment documentation and I contacted a lawyer after I left him and the lawyer said since we didn't have a court marriage there can't be a divorce. Now, my questions are:
1. Do I write that I've been married before? and if yes I need to provide documentation to show I'm divorced or it was annulled.
2. How can I check like marriage records to see if my name comes up as married?
I have attached a picture of the marriage certificate the church gave us.
Please family lawyers, I desperately need your help!!!
Thanks in advance.

u are a free agent dear.

to me you're free

Throw away the marriage certificate and pretend it never happened. Ur name is not anywhere we don't have such records in naija

Great! Thank God oo! I was soooooo worried cos I am just about applying for my fiance visa. Thank you all VERY MUCH

Babe sorry to burst your bubble but you are VERY married.
Orthodox churches like the Catholic/Anglican/Methodist are recognised by law as having powers to conduct a marriage as they have licenses ....unlike most pentecostals that don't hence the insistence of the church that intending couples go to the registry.

I suggest you file for an annulment if the marriage wasn't consumated or a divorce. If you are abroad, the divorce process takes no more than 8wks especially if your ex spouse doesn't contest it

Contact the church you got married and confirm from them. You can also ask your ex what he has claimed on his own documents. Truth be told since there was no court then there is no real proof of marriage.

You need to contact the church because Orthodox churches can issue approved licenses that will be accepted by the courts. Do your research well.

keepingmum:
Babe sorry to burst your bubble but you are VERY married.
Orthodox churches like the Catholic/Anglican/Methodist are recognised by law as having powers to conduct a marriage as they have licenses ....unlike most pentecostals that don't hence the insistence of the church that intending couples go to the registry.

I suggest you file for an annulment if the marriage wasn't consumated or a divorce. If you are abroad, the divorce process takes no more than 8wks especially if your ex spouse doesn't contest it

Thanks for your reply. How can I told for an annulment? With the church?
And can someone file on my behalf?

In the eye of the Church, you're still married, and the Church will never grant you divorce. However, you can pretend you have never been married and pray your husband never decide to spoil things for you.
By the way, what's the meaning of arranged marriage?

baby124:
Contact the church you got married and confirm from them. You can also ask your ex what he has claimed on his own documents. Truth be told since there was no court then there is no real proof of marriage.

You need to contact the church because Orthodox churches can issue approved licenses that will be accepted by the courts. Do your research well.

I think he didn't remarry in the Catholic church. Plus we don't talk so I can't ask him. Though he also wanted the annulment and when I asked the lawyer he said there wasn't need cos we didn't have a court marriage (now I see he probably didn't know what he was talking about)
The church referred me to the archdiocese.
You've seen the marriage cert issued to us (is that the same as an approved license?)

ezugegere:
In the eye of the Church, you're still married, and the Church will never grant you divorce. However, you can pretend you have never been married and pray your husband never decide to spoil things for you.
By the way, what's the meaning of arranged marriage?

He's remarried so I don't see why he'll try to spoil things for me.
Arrange marriage: a marriage planned and agreed by the families or guardians of the couple concerned.

Thanks a lot for your reply

I've been researching this and people have different opinions about this that's why I decided to create a post and hear from people directly.
Part of the problem now is there a no chance of me coming to naija to file for anything and all that.
I really need to know especially if anyone has had a similar situation, are there records that could show that I was married by a priest? (Mainly for immigration check). Like public birth, marriage and death records or something of that nature...?

bellau09:


I think he didn't remarry in the Catholic church. Plus we don't talk so I can't ask him. Though he also wanted the annulment and when I asked the lawyer he said there wasn't need cos we didn't have a court marriage (now I see he probably didn't know what he was talking about)
The church referred me to the archdiocese.
You've seen the marriage cert issued to us (is that the same as an approved license?)

You have to make sure the church did not file it or give notice of the license to the court. I don't know your church's process.

bellau09:
I've been researching this and people have different opinions about this that's why I decided to create a post and hear from people directly.
Part of the problem now is there a no chance of me coming to naija to file for anything and all that.
I really need to know especially if anyone has had a similar situation, are there records that could show that I was married by a priest? (Mainly for immigration check). Like public birth, marriage and death records or something of that nature...?

Those records are not public in Nigeria. But they could be in the near future and you would have lied on your immigration document. Just make sure you follow the appropriate steps first.

The Catholic Church will not grant annulment once the marriage is consumated, that is the couple have sex. Annulment only happens in very rare cases. Once married, you remain married until death do you part. So don't even bring Church into it. And I'm very sure he didn't do his second wedding in the Catholic Church.

baby124:

Those records are not public in Nigeria. But they could be in the near future and you would have lied on your immigration document. Just make sure you follow the appropriate steps first.

Appropriate steps like? I don't want to have issues with this now or later on. But I sincerely don't know what to do at this point.

isswell

keepingmum:
Babe sorry to burst your bubble but you are VERY married.
Orthodox churches like the Catholic/Anglican/Methodist are recognised by law as having powers to conduct a marriage as they have licenses ....unlike most pentecostals that don't hence the insistence of the church that intending couples go to the registry.

I suggest you file for an annulment if the marriage wasn't consumated or a divorce. If you are abroad, the divorce process takes no more than 8wks especially if your ex spouse doesn't contest it

Pentecostals equally get licenses.


My church back home got that license from the Corporate Affairs Commission with about 100k. Anybody with 4 "Directors", an address, and a phone number can get that license. It's like registering a Private Limited Company in Nigeria. With about N100k, you will get a CAC registration and copies of signed and FGN authenticated marriage certificate to be issued by the Clergy.


@OP, that document is not exactly a trusted marriage certificate. However, I'd advise you go ahead to get an annulment as recommended. Without it, you can go ahead with your marriage plans, but in order to avoid troubles in the future (especially from your ex- husband), I would advise you to take all necessary measures. A desperate ex can go to any length to blackmail an individual.

bellau09:


Appropriate steps like? I don't want to have issues with this now or later on. But I sincerely don't know what to do at this point.

I have told you. Contact your church to ask what they did with your license and explain trad has been dissolved and no court was done. If they did not submit the license to the court house then you are free from the marriage. No record of a legal marriage exists for you. So you were not married.

baby124:

I have told you. Contact your church to ask what they did with your license and explain trad has been dissolved and no court was done. If they did not submit the license to the court house then you are free from the marriage. No record of a legal marriage exists for you. So you were not married.

Okay will do that. Thank you very much

Acidosis:



Pentecostals equally get licenses.


My church back home got that license from the Corporate Affairs Commission with about 100k. Anybody with 4 "Directors", an address, and a phone number can get that license. It's like registering a Private Limited Company in Nigeria. With about N100k, you will get a CAC registration and copies of signed and FGN authenticated marriage certificate to be issued by the Clergy.


@OP, that document is not exactly a trusted marriage certificate. However, I'd advise you go ahead to get an annulment as recommended. Without it, you can go ahead with your marriage plans, but in order to avoid troubles in the future (especially from your ex- husband), I would advise you to take all necessary measures. A desperate ex can go to any length to blackmail an individual.

Thank you very much.
I'll look at how to get that started.

Why not ask a catholic priest straight on? I mean Catholic church has a way with marriage that often looks scary for the faint hearted.....the only reason I won't be marrying in one, makes it easier to jet in and when it is too hot. You know what I am saying right

I dey read n i de laf some comments

well, babe in igbo tradition ,ur divorced nt not married bt a catholic church can not support a divorce, cos its not a court of law,

go on wit ur marriage, act like u never married because ur ex husby acted like none

people talking of blackmail, how will that be possible when ur abroad n his married her also

Go on and marry ur oyibo husband, even witches go bow for una

Was a notice given at any registry 21 days or more before the wedding?
Did you sign on a long piece of paper with Nigeria coat of arms (marriage certificate)?
Did you go back to the registry after the wedding....

If the answer is No, you are Not married in the eyes of the law..
But the only confusion is most orthodox churches usually follow the normal procedure before they wed anyone. Surprise a Catholic Church gave out that certificate.

jokepearl:
Was a notice given at any registry 21 days or more before the wedding?
Did you sign on a long piece of paper with Nigeria coat of arms (marriage certificate)?
Did you go back to the registry after the wedding....

If the answer is No, you are Not married in the eyes of the law..
But the only confusion is most orthodox churches usually follow the normal procedure before they wed anyone. Surprise a Catholic Church gave out that certificate.

We didn't do any of that oo.
There was no registry, no signing on a paper with the coat of arms, no notice that I know of. Nothing of the such...

Homeboiy:
I dey read n i de laf some comments

well, babe in igbo tradition ,ur divorced nt not married bt a catholic church can not support a divorce, cos its not a court of law,

go on wit ur marriage, act like u never married because ur ex husby acted like none

people talking of blackmail, how will that be possible when ur abroad n his married her also

Go on and marry ur oyibo husband, even witches go bow for una

Your post made me laugh. Lol
But thanks a lot for your response. Lol.
My fiance knows I was previously married so I don't think he could blackmail me with that but to be on the safe side, I decided to post here and find out.

bellau09:


We didn't do any of that oo.
There was no registry, no signing on a paper with the coat of arms, no notice that I know of. Nothing of the such...

You are not married biko
The church wedding was only a ceremony since you didnt sign the marriage certificate
This one they gave you can't be used for any legal proceedings.
The marriage certificate is the legally recognized document for official purposes
, u are free as a bird.
When u are asked if u have ever been married, say no.
Your ex can't challenge it cos he doesn't have legally binding proof.

That wedding certificate up there is not the real one from registry! The church wedding you did was just a mere ceremony, in the eyes of the law, no legal marriage conducted!

@op all of them are telling you what you want to hear!

You are married and its perfectly legal.

Catholic is a worldwide organisation even if they give you a piece ofpaper. it is still bounded.

Go to the nearest Catholic church and enquire of annulment process if you meet the requirements.

I dont think you can do anything Legal again as in your second marriage will be termed illegal if anybody especially your to be inlaw contest it.

However tell your new man to write a WILL to cover you in case of incasity

Homeboiy:
I dey read n i de laf some comments

well, babe in igbo tradition ,ur divorced nt not married bt a catholic church can not support a divorce, cos its not a court of law,

go on wit ur marriage, act like u never married because ur ex husby acted like none

people talking of blackmail, how will that be possible when ur abroad n his married her also

Go on and marry ur oyibo husband, even witches go bow for una

Nobody knows tomorrow, so they say. I bet if Buhari knew the implication of what he did some 60 years ago, he would have studied very hard and well enough to sit for WAEC exam.

You may say that at least he is the president today, but remember that not many will have that opportunity to attract votes from zombies without a due certificate.