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Zwolle, Netherlands – January 8, 2026 – A district court in Zwolle has ruled that a couple's marriage ceremony held on April 19, 2025, is legally invalid because the officiant's speech, prepared with the assistance of the AI tool ChatGPT, omitted crucial mandatory declarations required under Dutch law. The decision means the couple must remarry if they wish to be legally recognized as spouses.
The case centers on the Dutch civil marriage requirements outlined in Book 1 of the Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek), which mandates that during the ceremony, the couple must explicitly declare their willingness to fulfill the duties imposed by marriage. Specifically, the law requires a statement acknowledging the obligation "to do their duty to one another as required by their wedded state."
In this instance, the couple opted for a personalized ceremony by appointing a close friend as a buitengewoon ambtenaar van de burgerlijke stand (babs) voor één dag—commonly known as a "registrar for a day" or "eendagsbabs." This popular Dutch option allows non-professional officiants to conduct weddings after municipal approval, enabling a more informal and personal touch.
The friend, seeking a "lighter tone" for the speech, used ChatGPT to generate or refine the text. However, the resulting speech failed to include the compulsory legal declaration. The ceremony proceeded without issue at the time, and an official municipal registrar was present but did not intervene or object.
The omission came to light later when the Zwolle municipality reviewed the proceedings. Authorities notified the Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie), which petitioned the court to annul the marriage registration, arguing that the absence of the required vows rendered the union void ab initio—meaning it never legally existed.
In its ruling issued on January 6, 2026, the Overijssel District Court in Zwolle sided with the prosecution. The judge acknowledged the emotional significance of the original date—chosen for its personal importance to the couple—but emphasized adherence to the law: “The court understands that the marriage date recorded in the certificate is important to the man and the woman but cannot disregard what is laid down in the law.”
The couple contested the annulment, highlighting that the professional registrar's presence and lack of objection should validate the proceedings. They requested the court at least preserve the April 19 date on any new certificate, but this was denied.
This unusual case highlights the growing intersection of artificial intelligence with legal formalities. While AI tools like ChatGPT are increasingly used for drafting texts, including speeches and documents, the incident underscores potential pitfalls when applied to processes with strict statutory requirements.
In a follow-up development reported on January 8, the couple clarified that the speech was not entirely written by ChatGPT but merely checked or refined using the tool. They placed responsibility on the municipality for approving the officiant and not catching the error during the ceremony. The friend who officiated has also expressed distress over the portrayal in media reports.
Dutch law allows for "free ceremonies" without legal binding, but couples seeking official marriage must incorporate the prescribed elements. The "eendagsbabs" system, while flexible, still binds officiants to these rules. Municipalities typically provide templates or guidance to prevent such oversights.
The ruling has sparked discussions on social media and in legal circles about the reliability of AI in formal contexts and the need for better training for one-day registrars. It also serves as a cautionary tale for couples planning personalized weddings in the Netherlands.
As of now, the couple remains legally unmarried and must organize a new ceremony to formalize their union. No appeals have been announced, though the decision could set a precedent for similar cases involving non-compliant speeches.
This event illustrates the rigid nature of civil marriage laws in the Netherlands, designed to ensure clear consent and awareness of marital obligations, regardless of technological aids or informal intentions.
