In recent years, among the many changes brought about by the corona pandemic, many countries have begun finding solutions for couples who want to get married online. In the past, there were different ways to get married without the presence of one or both partners, but only recently has legal validity also been given to the registration of couples who married in online marriage, Utah zoom marriage – in accordance with the laws of the state of Utah.
Relevance to Israel
In Israel there are many couples who cannot get married in Israeli marriages. This is because Israeli law only allows religious marriages to be performed, which are not civil marriages in Israel. For example, same-sex couples cannot get married in Israel, couples in which one is Jewish and the other is not Jewish cannot get married in Israel, and so on.
However, Utah marriage is marriage via Zoom, in accordance with the laws of the state of Utah. A couple wishing to marry can conduct the ceremony via Zoom, without the need to purchase plane tickets, with all the invitees and participants they want to invite. Couples who cannot or do not want to leave Israel, and yet – they cannot legally marry in an Israeli ceremony, can have a Utah marriage ceremony and be recognized by the state as married in every way – including for the matter of family reunification.
The Process
First, the couple must obtain a marriage license. In Utah, a marriage license can be obtained by filling out and submitting a series of forms and scanning the passport and passport photo online.
After obtaining the marriage license, a person who will be authorized to conduct the ceremony will be appointed. In accordance with the laws of the state of Utah. Among those authorized are judges, mayors, clergymen and other officials with authority.
The ceremony itself is conducted online via the Zoom application and you can also add the couple’s happy family to it, whether they are together with the couple or at their home. The couple will be able to exchange rings and vows, if they wish, but there is no obligation to do so. It is important to ensure that all participants have a connection and access to zoom and that they can connect properly at the scheduled time.
Utah Marriage Registration
After the ceremony, the officiant will sign a marriage certificate and send it for verification by apostille stamp, which will also make the document valid outside the US.
Marriage Registration in Israel
Until 2023, the Israeli Ministry of Interior refused to recognize Utah marriages as valid for registration, and also refused to recognize them as valid for arranging status for foreigners in Israel (family reunification). However, on March 7, 2023, the Supreme Court ruling was issued which held that in accordance with the precedent of the Supreme Court, which still allows registration as married of couples who married outside Israel, the Ministry of Interior is not entitled to refuse to register couples who married – also in Utah marriages. Therefore, immediately after the original marriage certificate with the apostille arrives in Israel, the couple can go to the Ministry of Interior and register as a married couple.
After the ruling, the family reunification procedure was corrected so that it does not exclude Utah marriages, and indeed, couples married in Utah marriages can apply for family reunification as a married couple.
Arranging the Marriage for You
Our office will be happy to handle the bureaucracy involved in organizing and scheduling the ceremony. You will go through the process with a qualified and specialized attorney, and you will be able to be free to celebrate the happy day in your lives. The marriage will be performed quickly and efficiently, and the certificate will be sent directly to your home, authenticated and ready for registration at the Israeli Ministry of Interior.
Leave your details to get married in Utah marriages through our office!