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Article 166 of the French Civil Code

The publication ordered in article 63 will be made at the town hall of the place of marriage and at the town hall of the place where each of the future spouses has his or her domicile or, in the absence of a domicile, his or her residence.

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Article 171 of the French Civil Code

The President of the Republic may, for serious reasons, authorise the celebration of the marriage in the event of the death of one of the future spouses, provided that a sufficient collection of facts unequivocally establishes his or her consent. In this case, the effects of the marriage shall date back to the day preceding that of the death of the spouse. However, such marriage shall not entail any right…

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Article 171-1 of the French Civil Code

A marriage contracted in a foreign country between French nationals, or between a French national and a foreign national, is valid if it has been celebrated in the forms customary in the country of celebration and provided that the French national or nationals have not contravened the provisions contained in Chapter I of this Title. The same applies to a marriage celebrated by the French diplomatic or consular authorities, in…

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Article 171-2 of the French Civil Code

When celebrated by a foreign authority, the marriage of a French national must be preceded by the issue of a certificate of capacity to marry drawn up after completion, with the diplomatic or consular authority competent with regard to the place of celebration of the marriage, of the requirements set out in article 63. Subject to the exemptions provided for in Article 169, the publication provided for in Article 63…

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Article 171-3 of the French Civil Code

At the request of the diplomatic or consular authority with jurisdiction over the place of celebration of the marriage, the hearing and individual interviews with the future spouses referred to in article 63 are performed by the civil registrar of the place of domicile or residence in France of the future spouse(s), or by the territorially competent diplomatic or consular authority in the event of domicile or residence abroad.

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Article 171-4 of the French Civil Code

Where there are serious indications that the intended marriage is null and void under articles 144, 146, 146-1, 147, 161, 162, 163, 180 or 191, the diplomatic or consular authority shall immediately refer the matter to the competent public prosecutor and inform the interested parties. The Public Prosecutor may, within two months of the referral, inform the diplomatic or consular authority of the place where the celebration of the marriage…

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Article 171-5 of the French Civil Code

In order to be enforceable against third parties in France, the marriage record of a French national celebrated by a foreign authority must be transcribed into French civil status registers. In the absence of transcription, the marriage of a French national, validly celebrated by a foreign authority, produces its civil effects in France with regard to the spouses and children. The future spouses are informed of the rules provided for…

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Article 171-6 of the French Civil Code

When the marriage has been celebrated despite the opposition of the public prosecutor, the consular civil registrar may only transcribe the foreign marriage record onto French civil status registers after the spouses have submitted a judicial release decision.

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Article 171-7 of the French Civil Code

Where the marriage has been celebrated in contravention of the provisions of Article 171-2, transcription is preceded by a joint hearing of the spouses and, where appropriate, individual interviews by the diplomatic or consular authority. However, if this authority has information establishing that the validity of the marriage is not in question with regard to articles 146 and 180, it may, by reasoned decision, have the transcript made without first…

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