Procedure and conditions for marriage registration during wartime

Citizens of Ukraine have the opportunity to marry on the day of submitting an application by contacting any DRACS department. The basis for this is Part 2 of Article 32 of the Family Code of Ukraine, which provides for a reduction in marriage terms if there is an immediate threat to the life of the bride or groom.During martial law, the procedure for marriage has also been somewhat changed in cases where one of the spouses is a serviceman. In particular, Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated March 7, 2022, No. 213 "Some Issues of State Registration of Marriage in Conditions of Martial Law" stipulates that state registration of marriages, when one of the spouses is a serviceman, can be carried out by DRACS departments without the personal presence of such a spouse. In such a case, the application for state registration of marriage is submitted to the direct commander, who certifies the authenticity of the signature on the corresponding application and ensures its transfer to the department. Furthermore, the serviceman's direct commander can also certify the conclusion of the defender's marriage with a corresponding act and sealed with the official seal of the military formation. Incidentally, such an act can be drawn up without the personal presence of one or both spouses using available video communication means with the absent spouse, or with both absent spouses.The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, implemented an online service for submitting marriage applications through the Diia portal. Thus, engaged couples can choose the place, time, and format of the ceremony online. To do this, you need to: 1. have an electronic digital signature; 2. authorize on the Diia portal and go to the "Family" section; choose the "Marriage Application" service; 3. fill out the application and choose the time and place of registration; 4. pay the administrative fee; 5. sign the application with an electronic signature; 6. for the groom/bride to authorize in their personal account on the portal by following the link from the email to the application and signing it with an electronic signature. After this, employees of the chosen DRACS department will send a response and details regarding the ceremony to the email. After submitting the application, the newlyweds will only need to appear at the corresponding DRACS department on the day of the marriage.Under martial law, services in the field of state registration of civil status acts are provided on the principle of extraterritoriality. This means that there is currently no binding to a specific department.