Conditions and documents
- The marriage of a Muslim Moroccan woman to a non-Muslim man requires his conversion, recorded by the adouls; a Muslim Moroccan man may marry a Christian or Jewish woman.
- Usual documents: birth certificate, certificate of capacity to marry or certificate of single status issued by the consulate, medical certificate, criminal record, copy of the residence permit or passport, photographs.
- The application for authorisation is filed with the family section of the Court of First Instance; the judge checks that there are no impediments and may order an inquiry.
- The marriage is then concluded by an adoul deed and entered in the civil register.
Marriage celebrated abroad
- Moroccans living abroad (MRE) may marry under local law in the presence of two Muslim witnesses and provided there is no legal impediment (Articles 14 and 15); the marriage certificate must be filed with the consulate within three months.
- If it is not filed, proceedings for recognition of the marriage before the family court are required.
- The property regime is in principle separation of property; an agreement on the management of assets acquired during the marriage may be drawn up (Article 49).
Divorce and children
In the event of separation, the jurisdiction of Moroccan and foreign courts, the applicable law and the recognition of judgments raise questions of private international law: the firm advises on the most favourable forum, cross-border custody and visitation rights, and the exequatur of foreign decisions in Morocco.
This guide is provided for general information by Maître Lahfaia Law Firm, Rabat. It is no substitute for advice tailored to your situation; the rules and deadlines mentioned may change.