Hi, all! I was married in Jamaica, and now I'm being told that it's not recognized in the United States. I talked to a lawyer, and he told me that it was. Other research I've done online tells me that it's legally recognized here.

Anyone else get married in Jamaica? So are Jamaican marriages between U.S. citizens recognized or not?

Thanks for your help.

I guess it would depend, to my knowledge the only marriages not acknowledged in the United States are same-sex marriages, adult/child marriages, human/animal marriages.

I don't think there are any others not recognized but I may be wrong.

Hi! Yes. Thanks for the reply.

I've tried calling different govenment office's here. I feel I haven't gotten a good strong, definite response, though. When we got married nine years ago, I called around and was told there wasn't any form to fill out here.

To all, anyone marry elsewhere outside the United States? Do you know if your marriage was/is recognized in U.S.?

TryingHere,

My best friend and business partner got married in Jamaica. It was part of a vacation/marriage/honeymoon package offered over there. There M is definitely recognized in this country.

Hi, starman!

Thanks for the reply. That was how I got married as well – vacation/marriage/honeymoon.

I ask this because WH said he sent me annulment papers. He said his attorney said that our marriage isn't legal because we didn't register something here. But I haven't received any annulment papers, and neither my county nor his county have any record of anything being filed by him. I don't know if WH is just BSing or what. (I can't believe he wants to pretend that 9 years of marriage and 17 years of being together never happened.)

Last Saturday, I finally called OW's parents. I was a surprise to them – WH told them he was no longer married. Now OW's stepfather tells me that he's checked into it with lawyers and says that our marriage isn't legal, too. (Yeah, OW's stepfather is defending their sick relationship – probably because OC is on the way.) He says there is no annulment because there isn't anything to annul. OW's stepfather wouldn't give me the name of these "lawyers."

Well, I still can't find anyone to tell me firsthand that our marriage isn't legal.

Thanks again, starman.

An Anwser

After doing a search using Google, the above is an example of one of many that say [color:"red"] YES [/color] your marriage is recognized in the U.S.

I don't understand how he thinks he can legally get an annulment, it's not like you've been married a day or two.

Are you are referring to a religious stand point? You'd still have to go through the divorce process first.

Get some legal advice pronto! Usually up front you can get an hour of an attorney's time at no charge so you can see where you stand.

Sorry you are going through this!

Do you have a marriage license? You have to apply for a license in the state of your residence, at least I know that is how it works here in Ohio.

Ragamuffin,

Hi! Guess what? That was my question that you linked to! The Internet does make this a small world, huh? How funny! Thanks anyway.

Yes, there are only certain reasons given in my state and now his new state for an annulment. Believe me, we don't qualify for any of them! I think he's just blowing smoke! Mostly, I think he's mad because I contacted OW's family. Too bad! I'm just exposing their ugly affair for what it really is!

I don't think he's talking about an annulment from a religious standpoint either.

Comfortably Numb,

We have a marriage license from Jamaica only.

I'm not sure what you mean. Not that I'm in Ohio, but you mean you have to get a license even if say you get married in Vegas but live in Ohio?

By the way, I talked today to another state office here. Again, I was told that my marriage license should be valid here. I'm really thinking I may not have anything to worry about...well, as far as any annulment anyways.