How can a person be considered married in one country but single in another?

A person may be considered married in one country but single in another due to the diversity of national legal systems and the lack of a uniform international body of rules governing marital status. This phenomenon is often referred to in private international law as a "limping" relationship.12

This situation typically arises because each country maintains its own marriage law, which reflects specific cultural, religious, or social standards. Discrepancies occur for several reasons:31

• Recognition of Divorce: Countries have different rules regarding the recognition of foreign divorces. A person might obtain a divorce in a jurisdiction with liberal laws that is not recognized by their home country, leaving them legally married in one place and divorced (or single) in another.2
• Legal Requirements: Variations in requirements—such as age, consent, or registration—mean a union validly formed in one territory may not meet the statutory formalities required for recognition in another.32
• Same-Sex Marriage: Because some jurisdictions have legalized same-sex marriage while others have enacted measures to refuse recognition of such unions performed elsewhere, a couple's marital status can change depending on the jurisdiction.34