Which marriage is legally recognised?
A knowledge question from the official lists (theme: Living in French society), with its answer explained in English.
On exam day, in French
Quel mariage est reconnu légalement ?
- ALe mariage religieux, célébré dans un lieu de culteReligious marriage, performed in a place of worship
- BLe mariage civil, célébré à la mairieCivil marriage, performed at the town hallCorrect answer
- CLe mariage traditionnel, célébré en familleTraditional marriage, performed within the family
- DLe mariage civil ou le mariage religieux, au choix des épouxCivil or religious marriage, as the spouses choose
Explanation
In France, civil marriage is the only recognised marriage. It must be performed at the town hall. It is forbidden to perform a religious marriage before the civil marriage.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Religious marriage, performed in a place of worship — Civil marriage is the only recognised marriage in France. It is forbidden to perform a religious marriage before the civil marriage.
- C. Traditional marriage, performed within the family — Civil marriage, performed at the town hall, is the only recognised marriage in France.
- D. Civil or religious marriage, as the spouses choose — There is no choice: civil marriage is the only recognised marriage in France.
French words to remember
- mariage civilcivil marriage
- mairietown hall
- mariage religieuxreligious marriage
Official sources (in French)
La déclaration de mariage › Quelles conditions respecter pour se marier civilement en France ? — Ministère de l'Intérieur (DIAN), formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr · 20 octobre 2026
« Le mariage civil est le seul mariage reconnu en France. »
Mariage en France › Vous êtes célibataire ou divorcé ou veuf › Comment se déroule la célébration du mariage ? — Direction de l'information légale et administrative (DILA), service-public.gouv.fr · 16 septembre 2026
« Le mariage doit être célébré à la mairie, dans une salle ouverte au public. »
Mariage en France › Vous êtes célibataire ou divorcé ou veuf › Qui fixe la date du mariage ? — Direction de l'information légale et administrative (DILA), service-public.gouv.fr · 16 septembre 2026
« Il est interdit de célébrer un mariage religieux avant le mariage civil. »
Independent course, not affiliated with the French Ministry of the Interior.The exam itself is only in French. The English explanations are AI translations, checked by an independent chain (translation, review, blind check against the French sources); no human translator has reviewed them yet.
Page updated on 22 octobre 2026 (date in French format). All questions explained in English