A legal union between two people that is registered in court does not take place in front of a religious authority figure but rather a government official, such as a judge or a magistrate. The state accepts it and also refers to it as a civil ceremony. The prerequisites for a judicial marriage in most nations vary but often involve identification, evidence of age, and citizenship for each couple, as well as both partners' assent. In certain countries, premarital counseling, medical exams, or the conclusion of a waiting period may also be necessary.
