Legal Question in Immigration Law in Pennsylvania

Hello

An illegal person opens a church; he or she proclaimed him/her self pastor. He or she is not recognized by another church, council or organization. Can that illegal person perform wedding ceremony? If he or she can�t; what would happen to those marriages already done? Are they legal?

Thanks,


Asked on 10/28/10, 4:35 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Dianne Brooks The Mandel Law Firm

If the "married" couple does not have a state/city issued marriage license then the marriage is not legally recognized by the state. Each state has rules about who can sign marriage licenses, but they usually have to belong to a recognized religious organization, or be given permission by the state to perform marriages. As for the church, each one seems to have it's own rules about who can marry people. But in order to, for example, petition for a spouse to get a green card you have to provide a marriage license.

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Answered on 11/02/10, 8:59 am


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