One family law for all, or by community?
In most countries, a single civil law decides marriage, divorce and inheritance for everyone, and religious ceremonies are a private matter. In others, religious communities each have their own rules for family life, which the state recognises and sometimes enforces through separate courts. In a few, one religious law is the state's family law for all.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Is marriage and family law the same for everyone, or does it depend on a person's religious community?
One civil family law for everyone (38)
Separate personal laws by religious community (18)
One religious law as the state's family law (3)
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- Many countries with one civil law also allow religious ceremonies, and some recognise religious arbitration, so the lines are not hard.
- Within the 'community' group, the extent of state recognition and the power of religious courts varies widely.
- Countries where the picture is mixed or unsettled are not coloured.
Sources
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TheLawToKnow Tools. Legal World Maps: One family law for all, or by community?. https://tools.thelawtoknow.com/legal-world-maps/family-law.
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