A couple in Chessy is seeking €15,500 in compensation after the former mayor refused to allow their marriage [1].

The dispute centers on whether a municipal official can block a wedding because one partner is subject to an order to leave French territory. This case highlights the tension between local administrative authority and the legal right to marry regardless of immigration status.

The conflict began when former mayor Olivier Bourjot refused to publish the mandatory marriage bans for the couple. Bourjot said that the legal status of one partner—who was subject to an Obligation de Quitter le Territoire Français (OQTF)—prevented the union from taking place [2], [3].

An OQTF is an administrative decision requiring a foreign national to leave France. The mayor's refusal sparked a legal battle over the limits of mayoral power in civil matters. Antoine Savignat, the lawyer representing Bourjot, said the legal complexities of the case in recent analysis [4].

Despite the initial blockage, the couple eventually married in early May 2026 [5]. The ceremony was described as discreet following the period of legal uncertainty. Following the wedding, the couple filed a claim for damages against the commune of Chessy [1].

Chessy is a municipality in the Seine-et-Marne department of the Île-de-France region with a population of approximately 7,000 inhabitants [3]. The claim for 15,500 euros seeks to hold the local government accountable for the delay, and the legal stress caused by the mayor's decision [1].

Legal experts suggest that the publication of marriage bans is a ministerial act, meaning the mayor generally does not have the discretion to refuse based on a partner's residency status. The outcome of the compensation claim could set a precedent for how other municipalities handle similar immigration-related disputes in civil registries.

“The couple is claiming €15,500 after the former mayor refused to publish marriage bans.”

This case underscores a legal boundary in France: the distinction between immigration enforcement and civil rights. While an OQTF mandates that a person leave the country, it does not legally disqualify them from the right to marry. By attempting to enforce immigration law through the denial of a civil ceremony, the former mayor of Chessy may have exceeded his administrative authority, potentially exposing the municipality to financial liability.