22/10/2020
FAMILY LAW THURSDAY!
Legal effects of marriage.
Over the years we have e had people ask us whether they can conduct "court" marriage , church marriage and traditional marriage. Many have even gone further to conduct all these marriages simply because they believe that the combination of these will only make the marriage valid and legal.
On today's segment we shall be discussing different types of marriages and their legal effect.
1. Statutory Marriage: This is the formal marriage between a man and a woman under the application law of a country. For instance in Nigeria any marriage conducted under the Matrimonial causes Act. This type of marriage confers peculiar rights and obligations to both parties. The statutory marriage is celebrated with the issuance of registrars certificate from the marriage registry. The couple may also celebrate their statutory marriage at a licensed place of worship by a recognized minister of that particular denomination in the presence of at least two witnesses apart from officiating ministers. The officiating minister immediately after the celebration of the marriage is required to complete in duplicate the marriage certificate hand one to the couple and send the other to the registrar of marriage in that local government where the marriage celebration took place.
2. Customary Law Marriage: This varies as customary practices are peculiar in various parts of Nigeria. But the following are really important condition to be fulfilled in customary marriage.
1. Consent : we have two types of consent here the consent of the parties and the consent of the parents. Parental consent is highly important because marriage is seen as a transaction between both families and not just the couple alone.
2. Payment of bride price: A valid customary marriage is sealed as soon as the dowry or bride price is paid. The nature, quantum and time of payment of the bride price defers from region to region. In most culture failure to fulfil his condition may lead to the recall of the bride by her family and an action may be instituted against the husband for the recovery of the due payment.
3. Celebration: Following the consent and payment of bride price, the marriage ceremony will be conducted here the formal handing over of the bride by her family to the groom's family takes place.
For dissolution of these marriages certain steps will need to be taken and these steps will be discussed in the coming weeks.
If you need clarification on any of these do not hesitate to send us a message. We are here to attend to your legal issues.
Till we come your way next week Remember that you have a RIGHT TO LIVE.!! SHUN VIOLENCE AND EXERCISE YOUR RIGHTS IN A CIVIL MANNER.