International marriage and divorce law (Australian marrying a non-Australian)
<p>If an Australian marries a non-Australian outside of Australia, what is the legal status of their marriage in Australia and the implications for the Australian party in the unfortunate event of divorce?</p>

<p>As a general rule, countries tend to recognize marriages performed abroad - even if those marriages could not legally be performed in the country.  (So a 14 year old couple from North Carolina would be considered "married" in the UK.  Note: that doesn't mean they can legally have sex.)</p>

<p>There are exceptions: countries which don't permit polygamy often don't recognize polygamous marriages performed where they are legal.</p>

<p>There would need to be evidence of the marriage though (as Jerry Hall found to her cost when she "divorced" Mick Jagger, and he successfully claimed that their wedding in Bali was not official).</p>

<ol>
<li>Marriage: They are married under Australian law.</li>
<li>Divorce: They are no longer married under Australian law.</li>
</ol>

<p>As per @greendrake's comments, this is explained here:</p>

<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_in_Australia#Recognition_of_foreign_marriages" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_in_Australia#Recognition_of_foreign_marriages</a></p>

marriage divorce