Article 21 — Solemnization and Registration

1. 1.

   Marriage under Kaharagian law is exclusively a civil institution. Only a marriage solemnized before an officiant authorised by the State, or a foreign marriage recognised under paragraph 8, has legal effect. A religious ceremony, of whatever faith, does not of itself constitute a marriage under this Code.

2. 2.

   Marriage is solemnized by the exchange of declarations of consent before an officiant authorised by the State.

3. 3.

   An officiant is authorised to solemnize marriages by appointment of the Royal Chancellery or by designation in a sovereign decree.

4. 4.

   A Kaharagian national may petition the Royal Chancellery for a Warrant of Civil Officiation authorising a named religious minister, elder, or other religious figure to solemnize civil marriages under this Code. The Chancellery shall grant the Warrant where the proposed officiant is of full age and capacity, consents to act, and undertakes to comply with the civil requirements of this Chapter. A Warrant may be limited in duration or scope and may be revoked by the Chancellery for cause.

5. 5.

   The solemnization shall take place in the presence of at least two witnesses who are of full age and legal capacity.

6. 6.

   The solemnization may be conducted by virtual means, in accordance with the Fundamental Laws, provided that all parties, the officiant, and the witnesses are able to see and hear one another in real time and that the proceedings are recorded in a durable form.

7. 7.

   The officiant shall, immediately after solemnization, cause the marriage to be registered in the civil status register in accordance with Article 7. The marriage takes effect for all purposes from the date and time of registration.

8. 8.

   Where a marriage is contracted between Kaharagian nationals, or between a Kaharagian national and a foreign national, under the law of a foreign jurisdiction, the Royal Chancellery shall, upon application accompanied by such documents as it may require, recognise the marriage and cause it to be entered in the civil status register, provided that the marriage does not contravene any requirement of Kaharagian public order. A marriage performed abroad by religious ceremony is recognised under this paragraph only if it was also registered as a civil marriage under the law of the jurisdiction in which it took place.

9. 9.

   A marriage not solemnized in accordance with this Article, and not recognised under paragraph 8, has no legal effect under Kaharagian law.