A judge annulled a marriage certificate, and a government employee wrote a text message using the ChatGPT application.
A judge in Zwolle declared a marriage invalid because the wedding vows during the ceremony did not comply with Dutch law. The government official who conducted the ceremony had written the speech using ChatGPT.
Last year, a couple asked one of their acquaintances to act as a babs for one day, which is an extraordinary civil servant authorized to perform marriage ceremonies for one day. The ceremony, held on April 19, 2025, also included a marriage officer from the municipality of Zwolle.
The couple wanted the ceremony to be fun and light-hearted, so babs wrote the one-day vows using ChatGPT. The speech included informal promises focusing on laughter, support, and love, instead of the required legal statements.
The public prosecutor received a notification from the municipality that the marriage may be invalid. The court decided that the couple did not provide the required legal declaration under Article 1:67 of the Dutch Civil Code, which obliges couples to declare that they will fulfill all legal obligations associated with marriage.
The couple expressed great disappointment, stating that the mistake was not their responsibility, and that the municipal employee failed to correct it. They asked the court to recognize their original wedding date, but the judge denied the request, emphasizing that legal requirements cannot be overlooked, no matter how emotionally significant they may be.