- Proxy marriage
-
A proxy wedding or (proxy marriage) is a wedding in which the bride or groom (or both) is not physically present, usually being represented instead by another person. If both partners are absent a double proxy wedding occurs.
Marriage by proxy is usually resorted to either when a couple wish to marry but one or both partners cannot attend for reasons such as military service, imprisonment, or travel restrictions; or when a couple lives in jurisdiction in which they cannot legally marry (such as Israel, where only people belonging to the same recognised religious community may marry).
Proxy weddings are not recognized as legally binding in most jurisdictions: both bride and groom must be present. A proxy marriage contracted elsewhere may be recognised where proxy marriage within the jurisdiction is not; for example, Israel recognises proxy marriages abroad between Israelis who may not have been permitted to marry in Israel.
Contents
History
It was common for European monarchs and nobility to marry by proxy in Medieval Ages and early Modern Age. A famous example of this is the marriage of Mary, Queen of Hungary to Louis I, Duke of Orléans in 1385. However, probably the most known was the marriage of Napoleon I of France and Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma. Catherine of Aragon wed Prince Arthur by proxy. A famous 17th-century painting by Peter Paul Rubens depicts the proxy marriage of Marie de Medici.[1]
Various Internet sites now offer to arrange proxy and double-proxy marriages for a fee, although the service can generally be set up by any lawyer in a jurisdiction that offers proxy marriage. Video conferencing allows couples to experience the ceremony together.[2] A unique "space wedding" took place on August 10, 2003 when Ekaterina Dmitriev married Yuri Malenchenko, a cosmonaut orbiting the Earth in the International Space Station, by proxy in Texas, USA.[3]
Legality
United States
In the United States proxy marriages are provided for in law or by customary practice in California, Colorado, Montana, and Texas,[4].[5][6]
Proxy marriages are illegal in all US states except Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, and Montana. In California it was legalized in 2004 for members of Armed Forces currently deployed and unable to attend a service. Montana is the only state that allows double-proxy marriage.[7] Not all states fully recognize proxy marriages, but legal precedent dictates that states recognize proxy marriage as at least a common-law marriage.[8]
During the early 1900s US proxy marriages increased significantly when many Japanese picture brides arrived at Angel Island, California. Since the early 20th century it has been most commonly used in the USA for marriages where one partner is a member of the military on active duty.[1]
Other countries
Mexico and Paraguay both offer proxy marriages for a fee. Proxy marriages through the consulate of Paraguay in Tel Aviv are recognized by Israeli law.
References
- ^ a b Cafazzo, Debbie (2006-06-01). "Marriage by proxy used for ages". Tacoma News Tribune.
- ^ Christenson, Sig (2010-01-01). "With this Skype, I thee wed". San Antonio Express-News. http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/With_this_Skype_I_thee_wed.html. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
- ^ "From Russia With Love". H Texas magazine. Archived from the original on 2006-11-01. http://web.archive.org/web/20061101183252/http://www.htexas.com/feature.cfm?Story=162. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
- ^ Legality of Proxy Marriages.
- ^ Barry, Dan. "Trading Vows in Montana, No Couple Required." The New York Times, 10 March 2008.
- ^ Montana Code 40-1-301: Solemnization and registration.
- ^ Cafazzo, Debbie (2006-06-01). "Proxy marriage allows war-torn couple to legally tie the knot". Tacoma News Tribune. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060601/LIFESTYLE/606010412/-1/ARCHIVE.
- ^ "Aliens. Marriage by Proxy Held to Give Alien Woman Status of "Wife"". Virginia Law Register 10 (7): 516–520. November 1924. JSTOR 1107813.
External links
Categories:- Types of marriage
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
