If an official at an administrative unit has refused to register your marriage, you may appeal this decision at the ministry for family. The procedure and time-limits for the appeal should be indicated in the decision. If the ministry for family refuses your marriage application as well, you may challenge this decision at the Administrative court.
Appeal
In your appeal to the ministry, you should:
- indicate the contested decision (what authority issued it, date, number)
- explain why you believe that the refusal to register your marriage was unlawful. You should describe all the circumstances that are important in deciding whether your request to register the marriage should have been granted
example If the refusal to register your marriage is based on the fact that you have failed to fulfil the formal criteria, you should explain why you believe that you have fulfilled them.
- add all relevant documents that substantiate your request, if there are any.
Decision
The ministry will assess whether the administrative unit has acted lawfully in refusing to register your marriage. If they find such a decision unlawful, it may oblige the administrative unit to register your marriage or register it themselves.
If the ministry refuses your marriage application as well, you may challenge this decision at the Administrative court. Read more about the court procedure in the Administrative Dispute Act.