Cuban Marriage "semi authentic" according to QC

[purpleshells]

Hey girls, I am COMPLETELY freaking out!!!

 

We got married a couple months ago and I sent it to be registered in Quebec (Etat Civil) and this is what they sent me back;

 

Madame, Vous avez soumis au directeur blablabla insertion au registre conformement a larticle 137 du Code civil du Quebec.

 

Nous avons procede a linscription de cet acte. Comme il sagit de linsertion dun acte qui na pas ete fait au Quebec, il conserve un caractere semi authentique.

 

blablablabla...

 

SEMI AUTHENTIC??? I thought it would be COMPLETELY legal here??? So I called them and they said to me that because of the reason that we did not marry here with their laws, it is still legal, has been since Cuba, registering it didnt officially legalize it, it alread was. however it is semi authentic and that if ever we move, we have to show the official cuban certificate and not the quebec one. I just dont like this SEMI AUTHENTIC word........

 

anyone know what this truly means???

[karyan]

Maybe they are referring to the Quebec registration being semi authentic rather then the Cuban one? It sounds like where ever you go your marriage is valid, but the Quebec registration is only semi authentic due to the fact you didn't get married in Quebec. Your best bet is to check with a legal authority to confirm this.

[richarsd]

Yes, it's not the Cuban ceremony that is rendered "semi-authentic"...it is legal, period. It's Quebec's recognition of it that is "semi-authentic". However, I don't think this actually means anything in terms of whether or not Quebec considers you legally married or not...they do. it just means that anythime, the registrar confirms to another department that you're married, it has to include the info that the marriage was not performed in Quebec. In terms of day to day business, I really don't think this would impact anything. It would be no different if you married in another province, Ontario for example, not just out of country...the "semi-authentic" status would be the same. I checked the Act specifically and here's what it says:

 

"137. Le directeur de l'état civil, sur réception d'un acte de l'état civil fait hors du Québec, mais concernant une personne domiciliée au Québec, insère cet acte dans le registre comme s'il s'agissait d'un acte dressé au Québec.
 

Il insère également les actes juridiques faits hors du Québec modifiant ou remplaçant un acte qu'il détient; il fait alors, sur l'exemplaire informatique, les inscriptions nécessaires pour assurer la publicité du registre.

 

Malgré leur insertion au registre, les actes juridiques, y compris les actes de l'état civil, faits hors du Québec conservent leur caractère d'actes semi-authentiques, à moins que leur validité n'ait été reconnue par un tribunal du Québec. Le directeur doit mentionner ce fait lorsqu'il délivre des copies, certificats ou attestations qui concernent ces actes."

[purpleshells]

Hi thanks girls, I spoke to a judge and he told me its just a play of words. Since we were not married in QC and not under their law they have to by law write that it is semi-authentic, HOWEVER, it is def. legal. and you can have the words authentic done by a notary or lawyer. But it does not change its validity. It is legal.