What does it take to get the Mexican marriage certificate to be recognized in Texas?

[hoyt75]

Ick ick ick ick icky!

 

Again, this is why we got married a the JP before we left for Mexico.

 

After to talking to the county clerk here in Tarrant County (Fort Worth) she told me that we would have had to have our Mexico license translated into English and then put on file with the county clerk. She said it was a long and drawn out process, which can rather costly.

 

Lady Di - If you're considering getting a new marriage certificate here then make sure you get a formal marriage certificate. The informal cert does not let you change your SS card to change your name, nor in most cases does it let you share benefits with your spouse, so one of you would not be able to get onto the other health insurance plan.

 

I would not recommend just using your Mexican marriage license b/c you may run into the problem of companies (health, insurance, etc) wanting to see your marriage license, and they may refuse to accept an out-of-country marriage license.

 

I'm really sorry that y'all are going through this, but in the end, I would prefer to get another certificate here than to risk not being legally considered husband & wife and not being able to share assets and benefits.

 

It reminds me of a gay couple getting married in CA or VT and then moving out of the state. They're still married the state that married them, but they wouldn't be considered married here, and they don't to share all the same benefits in TX as they would in the state they got married in. Just a thought.

[Lady_Di]

Yeah but it doesn't make sense WHY the state of dept says that all legal marriages performed abroad is VALID in US so we can't get denied for benefits and assests. it doesn't make damn sense! Sorry, I am just frustrated!

 

I will be talking with the HR dept and see if they will accept the Mexican marriage certificate.

 

It is partly our fault for not doing thorough research so I can't get mad at anyone...we honestly thought it was valid in US according to the state of dept. We failed to check directly with Harris county.

 

We ARE legally married so nobody can't say that we are not married. Oh well.

[ktchi]

I'm sorry- but I just had to comment on this. I feel like there is a lot of misinformation out there about this topic and many people might be discouraged from having a legal wedding abroad from reading this- when if that is what you want to do you should not be discouraged. Maybe I am biased because I am in the same boat- trying to figure this out, but I am willing to go through whatever hoops necessary because I really wanted the wedding that all of my friends and family attended to be the wedding that legally married us.

 

Ick ick ick ick icky!

 

Again, this is why we got married a the JP before we left for Mexico.

 

I would not recommend just using your Mexican marriage license b/c you may run into the problem of companies (health, insurance, etc) wanting to see your marriage license, and they may refuse to accept an out-of-country marriage license.

 

*They should not have a problem accepting an out of country marriage license because it is legal. Especially if it has been translated into English and authenticated. If my husband and I decide to move to England I wouldn't think of getting re-married just because we were living in a new country- they will recognize your marriage from another country.*

 

I'm really sorry that y'all are going through this, but in the end, I would prefer to get another certificate here than to risk not being legally considered husband & wife and not being able to share assets and benefits.

 

*I also don't think this is a good recommendation- it's like traveling around the world and racking up marriages- although it is to the same person, you should not have multiple marriage licenses.*

 

It reminds me of a gay couple getting married in CA or VT and then moving out of the state. They're still married the state that married them, but they wouldn't be considered married here, and they don't to share all the same benefits in TX as they would in the state they got married in. Just a thought.

 

*Except that there are laws that say that a marriage performed in other countries has to be accepted by our country and unfortunately at this point there are no laws to protect gay couples that leave the state in which they were married.*

 

I really don't want this to come across as snarky because that is not at all my intention, but I wanted to put another opinion out there.

[Lady_Di]

Thank you so much, Maureen. This is exactly what we need to know...we weren't sure if we HAD to register with our county. So many misinformation on this! I was upset because they were basically telling us our marriage is fake.

 

ktchi, you are not being snarky at all. I am glad that we got married in Mexico.

[Lisa DSO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady_Di . We don't want to get married again because it is basically saying that the first time was fake.

Diana, whether you have to redo it again as a formality or not, your wedding in Mexico WAS your real wedding and do not forget that. You exchanged vows to each other in front of your loved one and before God and that beautiful scenery- it WAS/IS real. Don't let a stupid local rule take anything away from that. If you have to do it again on paper, so be it, but your real wedding happened in Mexio. :-) <3 **hugs**

[hoyt75]

I don't think you're being snippity either, I'm just relaying info that our county clerk told us in hopes that it can help someone else. Texas is a bit backwards compared to other states, and I know this b/c I've lived all over the country. And it is hard to get a straight and consistent answer from one person to the next, let alone from one department to another.

[hoyt75]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa DSO Diana, whether you have to redo it again as a formality or not, your wedding in Mexico WAS your real wedding and do not forget that. You exchanged vows to each other in front of your loved one and before God and that beautiful scenery- it WAS/IS real. Don't let a stupid local rule take anything away from that. If you have to do it again on paper, so be it, but your real wedding happened in Mexio. :-) <3 **hugs**

Very true! We got legally married here a month or so before we got married in Mexico, but us, we weren't married at all until we did it in Mexico. Marriage isn't just about a piece of paper that binds you together, it's about your spirit and soul making a commitement to each other.

[Lady_Di]

Thank you Lisa!

[CeeCee76]

Thank you Maureen! You are so right! Your marriage is completely legal. I know it may feel uncomfortable carrying your marriage certificate with you without the reassurance that it’s filed in the US, but it’s not necessary. Ask anyone who has immigrated from another country with their Italian, Spanish, Russian marriage certificates…they are legal and can be used to get an SSN, passport, DL etc. Your best bet is to start with the federal government agencies (ie SSN, state department) to change your name than go to the state and have it changed. No worries about insurance companies etc, they’ve seen marriage certificates from so many different countries that all things will be fine.

You do not have to get married again in your state, unless you want to have a marriage license on file. The gay marriage thing is not comparing apples to apples.

[Lady_Di]

just wanted to post an update...finally, i got to deal with this issue. Social Security office accepted our marriage certificate and the DMW office did not need the certificate...all they wanted is the new SS card. So i am very happy that we didn't have to get re-married or file a formality that we are married! our marriage is not with our county's clerk records though but that is ok.

 

Do your research on marriages performed out of the country. it would save you some headaches!