Immigrant’s marriage was never legally recognised

Every divorce has its share of complications.

This was certainly the case for a woman with a non-Faroese background when her Faroese husband recently filed for divorce.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, has lived in the Faroes for ten years and has three children with her husband.

During the process it emerged that they could not divorce because their marriage was never legally recognised in the Faroes.

“Nobody had ever told me about that. I only found out about it after speaking to others who were in a similar situation,” she explains.

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“They told me it was my responsibility to legally authorise our marriage.”

The couple have agreed to divorce, but according to the woman, her husband is denying her access to their house, their car or her personal documents.

“I contacted the Family Law Administration, and they told me that our marriage needed authorisation in order for the divorce to go ahead. But this information was only sent to my husband, and since we are not on speaking terms, I knew nothing.”

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According to an information guide issued by the Family Law Administration, if a couple does not follow up on the divorce application within one month, it is assumed that they no longer wish to divorce and the case is shelved.

The woman says it saddens her to know that her marriage was never legally recognised in the Faroes.

“When I think back on the good times, I feel sad and frustrated,” she says.

“I was proud of being married. All this now makes me doubt whether I know anything about my own rights and my situation.”

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According to the Family Law Administration, marriages in most European countries as well as in the U.S. and Canada are legally recognised in the Faroes.

However, marriages conducted in e.g. Thailand and the Philippines need to be authorised in the country of origin in order to be legally valid.

The Family Law Administration says it amended its information and notification procedures today to ensure that both parties in a divorce receive the necessary information.

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

More Faroese News in English.