The process of contracting marriage varies widely around the world: in some countries it is possible to do this in a matter of hours, in others the procedure is quite complicated. Figured out how people get married and divorced in different parts of the world.
Germany
In Germany, marriages take place in local magistrates (Standesamt). Future spouses draw up declarations of intent, bring in identity papers and birth certificates, and the official (and sometimes the mayor) declares them to be husband and wife. The cost of wedding and document processing can vary from 65 to 200 euros.
The basis for divorce in Germany is the breakdown of marital relations to the extent that marriage is no longer possible. If the couple has not lived together for more than a year and has no property disputes, the court will divorce them without additional proceedings.
Japan
Until 2016, Japanese law prohibited women from marrying within six months of their last marriage, but the Supreme Court ruled the rule unconstitutional. Girls over 16 years of age may marry and boys at least 18 years of age. However, if you are a foreigner and in your home country marriage is allowed only after the 21st year, in Japan you cannot marry or marry before that age.
Both partners must complete a special form and submit it to the local municipality. The information is then entered into the Koseki, a special family register containing data on births, marriages, divorces and deaths of all family members. A foreigner does not have his or her own record and may be mentioned only as the spouse of a family member.
There are three divorce procedures in Japan: by mutual consent, with the participation of intermediaries and by court order. The simplest option was for both spouses to agree to the dissolution of the marriage, to share the property themselves and to decide on the custody of the children. In such cases, it is sufficient for the couple to print out and sign the divorce form in the presence of two adult witnesses and to take the document to the municipality.
If the parties cannot agree on their own, the institution of mediation becomes involved. A special judge and two moderators help the couple reach an agreement and work out divorce terms that will please everyone. At the same time, the final decision is always in the hands of the husband and the wife, the mediators, only guiding the dialogue in a constructive direction.
If the moderators failed, the divorce could be sought in court. Japanese law permits judicial divorce in cases of adultery, serious mental illness of one of the spouses, or where one of them is unknown for more than three years. If, after careful consideration of all the circumstances, the court considers that the marriage should continue, the court may reject the petition for divorce even against the will of the parties.
Saudi Arabia
There was no Family Code or equivalent in Saudi Arabia, whose legal system was based on sharia. Because of this, women’s rights in marriage are considerably restricted – for example, the man is always the initiator of marriage. Family members of the bride and groom participate in the marriage: it is they who decide whether a marriage is in principle possible, and who hold a viewing and exchange a dowry. The wedding itself takes place in the presence of at least two adult witnesses, naturally only male.
Polygamy was permitted in Saudi Arabia: a Muslim could have four wives, provided that he could provide for them and treat them equally. However, women have recently often inserted a clause in the marriage contract that prohibits her husband from marrying others.
Men have the unilateral right to divorce their wives instantaneously without any legal justification. For this purpose it is enough to say three times aloud «I’m divorcing you». He can cancel the divorce if the last words were spoken in the midst of an argument, but only if the wife agrees to return to him three times. For women, it is much more difficult: if a wife has good reasons to demand a divorce (for example, if her husband has cheated, abandoned or raped her), she must go to court.
In the event of divorce, fathers have automatic custody of sons from the age of seven and daughters from the age of nine. They must financially support the ex-wife and all the children of their marriage. A divorced woman usually returns to her family and rarely remarries.
Australia
The marriageable age in Australia for women and men starts at 18. Marriage before this age is allowed in «unusual and exceptional circumstances», and requires parental consent and court permission.
In order to marry in Australia, you must fill out a special form a month before the wedding and submit it to the sender of the marriage ceremony (Celebrant), a person authorized by the government to perform the marriage.
On your wedding day, you, your sender and two witnesses will sign three marriage certificates, after which you will receive two of them. Another must be submitted to the Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages within two weeks.
Divorce in Australia is a pretty simple thing: you get divorced if you realize that a marriage is irretrievably broken, you can’t rebuild a relationship and you don’t live together for more than 12 months and a day. If you don’t have a child under the age of 18, you don’t even have to attend a divorce hearing.