Marriage
A marriage is the official union between 2 partners. For a marriage to be legal, a marriage must meet certain conditions.
Some people marry out of love, others marry out of practical reasons such as financial benefits, power, status or children. The marriage can be arranged, or take place because both partners choose to marry.
Marriage involves a commitment from both partners.
People can also end a marriage. This is called divorce.
Arranged marriage
In an arranged marriage, the parents or other family members choose the person their children or younger relatives will marry. Both men and women can be married off.
The youngsters can often decide if they want to get married or not, but this is not always the case. According to the law in Europe, you cannot be married off to someone you do not want to marry. Forced marriage is forbidden by law. Everyone has the right to choose a partner. If you do not want to marry the partner who has been chosen for you, talk about it to someone you can trust, or ask for professional help.
Mixed marriage and marriage migration
A mixed marriage is a marriage between 2 people with a different cultural, ethnic or religious background.
Marriage migration means that one of the partners moves to the country where the other partner is living.
Same-sex marriage
In various European countries, people in a homosexual relationship (same sex) can also marry or enter into a legally registered partnership.
Living together
You can also live together without marriage. When you enter a legally registered partnership, you sign a contract in the town hall. You can also sign a standard contract or have a personal contract prepared by a notary. The rights and obligations are different to those of a marriage contract.
