OMEN
01-03-2008, 08:53 PM
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INVALID? A lawyer in French Polynesia has said Eddie Murphy's beach marriage to Tracey Edmonds there is likely to be invalid.
Film star Eddie Murphy's beach marriage in French Polynesia this week is likely to be invalid, a lawyer in the territory has said.
General law specialist in French Polynesia, Malgras Benoit, confirmed reports that Murphy and his 40-year-old fiancee Tracey Edmonds were ineligible to be married locally because they had not lived in the region for long enough.
Under French law people wishing to marry must reside near where the ceremony is to take place for at least 30 days before they can legally tie the knot.
The couple reportedly arrived in French Polynesia by private jet on the weekend and were married on new year's day on a small islet near Bora Bora Island, a playground for wealthy tourists.
People magazine reported that the couple wed in a sunset ceremony on the beach in front of 25 family and friends.
The magazine said Edmonds walked barefoot down the aisle to Gladys Knight's Makings of You and that a gazebo made from 6000 shells was built for the event.
Benoit said the details indicated the wedding could not be recognised under French law.
"A marriage on the beach would be like ... a fake marriage. It's not a real marriage, if it is on the beach with only a local priest," he said.
"I think it was just an exotic, artistic 'marriage'," he said.
"You need to have residence for at least 30 days - one month in the island of Bora Bora for instance - and this has not been the case," Benoit said.
"If you want to get married in Paris you have to live in Paris for at least one month."
He said there were exceptions to the 30 day rule, but a derogation of the law could only proceed if the marriage occurred in a town hall in front of the local mayor.
A US government website says overseas marriages are normally recognised by America but are subject to residency requirements in the country where they are performed.
"There is almost always a lengthy waiting period," the website says.
Murphy, 46, has five children to his former wife Nicole, who he divorced last year.
He also has fathered a daughter with Spice Girls singer Melanie Brown.
Bang Showbiz
INVALID? A lawyer in French Polynesia has said Eddie Murphy's beach marriage to Tracey Edmonds there is likely to be invalid.
Film star Eddie Murphy's beach marriage in French Polynesia this week is likely to be invalid, a lawyer in the territory has said.
General law specialist in French Polynesia, Malgras Benoit, confirmed reports that Murphy and his 40-year-old fiancee Tracey Edmonds were ineligible to be married locally because they had not lived in the region for long enough.
Under French law people wishing to marry must reside near where the ceremony is to take place for at least 30 days before they can legally tie the knot.
The couple reportedly arrived in French Polynesia by private jet on the weekend and were married on new year's day on a small islet near Bora Bora Island, a playground for wealthy tourists.
People magazine reported that the couple wed in a sunset ceremony on the beach in front of 25 family and friends.
The magazine said Edmonds walked barefoot down the aisle to Gladys Knight's Makings of You and that a gazebo made from 6000 shells was built for the event.
Benoit said the details indicated the wedding could not be recognised under French law.
"A marriage on the beach would be like ... a fake marriage. It's not a real marriage, if it is on the beach with only a local priest," he said.
"I think it was just an exotic, artistic 'marriage'," he said.
"You need to have residence for at least 30 days - one month in the island of Bora Bora for instance - and this has not been the case," Benoit said.
"If you want to get married in Paris you have to live in Paris for at least one month."
He said there were exceptions to the 30 day rule, but a derogation of the law could only proceed if the marriage occurred in a town hall in front of the local mayor.
A US government website says overseas marriages are normally recognised by America but are subject to residency requirements in the country where they are performed.
"There is almost always a lengthy waiting period," the website says.
Murphy, 46, has five children to his former wife Nicole, who he divorced last year.
He also has fathered a daughter with Spice Girls singer Melanie Brown.
Bang Showbiz