We’ve all heard of the typical marriage ceremony, where both parties physically come together with witnesses in order to declare their love for one another and be bound in matrimony (until they aren’t anymore). But what about two parties who wish to get married but cannot physically come together for the marriage? That’s where a proxy wedding comes in.
The Proxy Wedding
Surprisingly, proxy marriages are only legal in a few states and California is one of them. In a proxy marriage, one party will stand in for the party who is absent during the ceremony. The proxy will act exactly as the absent party would if they were present – repeating the vows and observing the notarization of essential documents.
Why Choose A Proxy Wedding?
Proxy weddings are most commonly used when one party is in the military, deployed and cannot make it to the wedding ceremony. It is also used when both parties have time constraints on when they must wed (and it happens to be that one cannot make the ceremony in time). If either of these situations pertain to you and your potential spouse, perhaps you can consider a proxy wedding yourself.
How Proxy Weddings Factor Into Family Law
Since proxy marriage is legal in California, it will have the same legal effect as a regular marriage in the state. Therefore, if divorce is imminent, both spouses will be subject to the same laws and obligations that pertain to spouses who partook in a regular marriage.
Why You Should Hire A Lawyer
If you were subject to a proxy (or regular) marriage and you are thinking about divorce, it would be prudent to consider hiring an attorney to help you through the process. Divorce can be, and often is, contentious, arduous, and expensive. That’s why it’s important to hire a knowledgeable attorney who will look out for your best interests. If you’re thinking of hiring an attorney for your case, call Butler Law, PC today!