Legal Definitions - lex loci celebrationis

Definition:Lex loci celebrationis is a Latin term that means "law of the place of the ceremony." It refers to the law of the place where a contract, especially a marriage contract, is made. This law usually governs when the validity of a marriage is at issue.

Example: If a couple gets married in Las Vegas, Nevada, the lex loci celebrationis would be the law of Nevada. If there is a dispute over the validity of the marriage, the court would apply the law of Nevada to determine whether the marriage is valid.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the lex loci celebrationis applies to a marriage contract. The law of the place where the marriage ceremony took place governs the validity of the marriage. In this case, the law of Nevada would apply because that is where the marriage ceremony occurred.