Is a foreign marriage legal recognised in the UK

[guiltynsad]

Specifically a marriage from Pakistan (Nikah) which is legally valid in that country would it be accepted as a legal marriage here?
If I need to get a divorce/seperation then I need to fist figure out if we are actually married in this country and if we are not married does this simplify or complicate thing as far as property and kids are concerned
Please Help!

[guiltynsad]

sorry legally not legal in the title!

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Unless there's something odd about Nikah, yes, a legal marriage abroad is recognised here.

[guiltynsad]

A nikah is a muslim religious marriage

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

I'm pretty sure that a Pakistani Nikah is legally recognised in the UK.

[guiltynsad]

Thanks Professor! I needed to know this as I am looking at getting a divorce from my H of 10 years and have just realised I never looked in to the legality of it before.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

I did a quick bit of googling and it seems that there's a religious part and a legal part. (Same as many weddings here.) If you did the legal part, you're legally married.

[guiltynsad]

In Pakistan as far as I am aware the reglgious part is a legally recognised marriage

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Well, there's this from the Muslim Parliament; it's actually about nikah taking place in the UK, rather than in Pakistan, though. Did you undergo a civil ceremony as well as the religious one?

[guiltynsad]

Thanks OLKN I will look at the link.
The civil ceremony is part of the religious one there, i.e. we have signed documents stating that we agree to marry each other infront of witnesses etc etc. Am not sure of any other kind of marriage there to be honest I have never come across a purely civil ceremony there.

[LucindaCarlisle]

Have you tried looking up the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages web site.

Google Births and Marriages.

[ilovemydogandMrObama]

Had an idea. Could you contact the Pakistan High Commission and ask them? They would know about Pakistani law and UK law.

[guiltynsad]

thanks I will try both the births and marriages and the Pakistani High Commission too.