In Brief

• Marriage is open to couples of different sexes or the same sex.
• The future spouses must be of legal age (at least 18 years), unless there is an exceptional exemption.
• The marriage is celebrated in a municipality with which at least one of the spouses has a lasting connection (domicile, residence, or parent).
• Opposition to marriage must be based on a legal impediment and communicated by a judicial officer.
• The request for annulment due to lack of free and informed consent must be made within a maximum period of 5 years.

Who Can Take the Steps

To get married in France, two people, of different sexes or the same sex, must meet certain conditions. If you are a foreigner, specific rules related to your nationality may apply, respecting French public order.

The fundamental conditions are:

• Age: You must be of legal age, meaning at least 18 years old. If you are a minor, you may, in exceptional cases, be allowed to marry. You must obtain the following authorizations: an age exemption granted by the public prosecutor for serious reasons, and the consent of at least one of your parents.
• Absence of kinship or alliance: Marriage is prohibited when a very close relationship exists.
• Consent: Each of you must give your free and informed consent to the marriage.

If consent is not free and informed, the marriage can be annulled at the request of one of the following persons: yourself, your future spouse, or the public prosecutor. The annulment request must be made within a maximum period of 5 years.

Steps

1. Choose the Place of Marriage

The marriage is celebrated in a municipality with which at least one of you has a lasting connection. This lasting connection can be with one of the following municipalities:

• The one where one of you resides or has their domicile.
• The one where a parent (father/mother) of one of you resides or has their domicile.

The civil status officer ensures that at least one of the persons meets this condition.

2. Submit the File at the Town Hall

You must submit a file at the town hall. Although the exact list of documents is not detailed in this excerpt, it is essential to provide proof of the lasting connection with the municipality as well as identification documents and proof of parental consent or age exemption if applicable.

3. Publication of Bans

The announcement of the marriage is made by the publication of bans. These are notices posted at the town hall door by the civil status officer. This step makes the marriage public and allows for any potential oppositions.

4. Opposition Procedure (if applicable)

Opposition to marriage aims to prevent the celebration of a marriage that does not meet the required conditions. It is a serious act, strictly regulated.

Persons Who Can Oppose:

• Current spouse of one of the persons wishing to marry.
• Ascendant.
• Guardian or curator.
• Public prosecutor.
• In case of impairment of personal faculties of a future spouse, other family members (brother, sister, uncle, aunt...) may oppose the marriage in the absence of an ascendant.

Reasons for Opposition: The person opposing a marriage must justify their intervention by a legal impediment. The reasons are strictly regulated:

• Risk of bigamy (for the current spouse).
• Legal conditions not met (age, kinship, impairment of faculties, simulated marriage).
• Note: Moral, religious, family, or personal convenience reasons are not accepted.

Opposition Procedure:

• Opposition must be made in writing.
• The act of opposition must include: the identity of the opponent, the relationship with the future spouse, the reason for the opposition, and the legal text on which the opposition is based (reproduced in full).
• The opponent must also have an address (known as electing domicile) in the municipality where the marriage is to be celebrated.
• The opposition must be communicated to the future spouse and the civil status officer by a judicial officer (formerly known as a bailiff and judicial auctioneer).

5. Lifting the Opposition

The opposition prevents the celebration of the marriage. To obtain the celebration of the marriage, the opposition must be lifted (lifting).

• Voluntary Lifting: If the opponent withdraws, the marriage can proceed without further steps.
• Judicial Lifting: Otherwise, a judicial lifting must be requested. The lifting must be requested by the concerned future spouse at the judicial court.

Competence of the Court: The competent court is either that of the municipality of marriage (domicile elected by the opponent in the act of opposition), or that of the actual domicile of the opponent. The assistance of a lawyer is mandatory.

Sanction: If the court rejects the opposition, the opponent (other than an ascendant) may be ordered to pay damages.

Documents

The required documents necessarily include:

• Proof of parental consent or age exemption (if minor).
• Documents establishing the lasting connection with the municipality of marriage (domicile, residence, or domicile/residence of a parent).
• If you are under guardianship or curatorship, proof that the guardian (or curator) has been informed of the marriage must be attached to the file and submitted to the civil status officer.

Cost

This information varies depending on the situation (fees for judicial officers, lawyer fees in case of litigation).

Deadlines

• Annulment Deadline: The request for annulment due to lack of free and informed consent must be made within a maximum period of 5 years.
• Publication of Bans: The duration of posting is not specified in this excerpt, but it is prior to the celebration.

Pitfalls to Avoid

• Simulated Marriage: A sham marriage contracted solely for the purpose of gaining an advantage without the intention of living together, or a gray marriage when only one of the future spouses is sincere, constitutes a valid reason for opposition and may lead to annulment.
• Unacceptable Reasons: Do not base an opposition on moral, religious, family, or personal convenience reasons, as they are not accepted by law.
• Absence of Elected Domicile: The opponent must elect domicile in the municipality of marriage; otherwise, the procedure is irregular.
• Failure to Inform the Guardian: Failing to inform the guardian or curator and to attach proof of this information to the file blocks the procedure.

Official Source

Fiche service-public.fr - Marriage in France Verified on March 17, 2025 - Service Public / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice