Legal Question in Family Law in Missouri

Muslim marriage

My son is involved with a girl. She is running from her family and living with my son. She was married in Iraq (possibly an arranged marriage). We helped her come back to the U.S. in mid December because of the stories she was telling us and she is now romantically involved with my son. She told him her marriage is not a marriage in US only a marriage in Kurdistan (Iraq). My son is telling his daughter and myself that it is not a marriage in God�s eyes because it was a Muslim marriage and not married under our God.

What is the legal status of this marriage in the US?


Asked on 1/05/08, 1:24 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Anthony Smith LawSmith

Re: Muslim marriage

You did not metion any of the facts that one would look for in deciding if a person is married. Is the marriage legally binding in Iraq? If so, then she is probably married still. Did this gal andher putative husband hold themselves out to the public as married? If so, then she may be considered to be married here too. What did she declare on her visa paperwork? That may provide evidence of how a US Court would view her marital status.

Itmay be best for her to get a divorce here, before your son tries marrying her. Without more information it may be best to play it safe and consider any intimate relation between them as adultery, until you know more.

Good Luck

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Answered on 1/06/08, 10:13 pm


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