Morocco's Moudawana Reform in 2026: Where Does It Stand for Moroccans Abroad?
Since 2023, the reform of the Moudawana, Morocco's Family Code, has been in the news. In London, New York or Toronto, many families wonder whether it will affect their marriage, their marriage contract or custody of their children. Updated 1 November 2026: here is what is actually established, what is still only a proposal, and what changes, or does not, for a Moroccan couple living abroad.
As of 1 November 2026, the Moudawana reform is neither passed nor in force: the 2004 Family Code (law 70.03) still applies in Morocco. According to the Moroccan press and legal sites we consulted, the timetable has slipped and examination of the text has moved to the new parliamentary term. There is nothing to do today: for a marriage, current rules apply, and you should confirm them with the Moroccan consulate or your local registry office.
Where does the Moudawana reform stand on 1 November 2026?
The process began with a royal letter in September 2023. In late December 2024, a set of proposed changes was presented after an opinion from the Supreme Council of Ulema. A bill then had to be drafted and follow the usual route: Government Council, House of Representatives, House of Councillors, and publication in the Official Bulletin.
That route is not complete. According to LesMRE (updated 15 October 2026), no text has been adopted and no date for tabling has been announced. An article from Médias24 on 12 August 2026 reports that the justice minister spoke of «final adjustments» and hinted at examination during the first year of the next legislature. As early as January 2026, Hespress noted that neither the majority nor the opposition expected quick adoption.
An announced reform is not a reform in force: until the text is published in the Official Bulletin, the 2004 Code governs.
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Join the waiting list →Which measures are mentioned, and which affect the diaspora?
The proposals cited by the specialist press are directions, not legal text. They could change during drafting and parliamentary debate. Among those that matter most for diaspora families:
- Marrying abroad: the possibility of dispensing with two Muslim witnesses when their presence is impossible, a very practical issue far from large communities.
- Custody and legal representation of children, notably for the mother who has custody, including after remarriage.
- Recognition of the wife's domestic work in assets acquired during the marriage.
- Polygamy, which would only be possible if the wife has not ruled it out in the marriage contract.
- The minimum marriage age of 18, with a possible exception at 17 under a judge's supervision.
- The family home, protected for the surviving spouse.
Some points, such as establishing paternity by DNA test outside marriage, were reportedly set aside after the ulema's opinion. The key takeaway: none of this applies today.
What does this mean in practice for a Moroccan couple abroad?
For now, nothing changes in your paperwork. Couples preparing to marry in the UK, the US or Canada keep following current rules: civil status documents, a marriage licence under local law, and, where relevant, registering the marriage with the Moroccan consulate. We cover this in our guides Documents for a British-Moroccan marriage and The stages of a traditional Moroccan wedding.
If it passes, the reform will mostly affect the consequences of marriage (custody, property, the family home) rather than meeting someone or getting engaged. For a specific situation, the safest step is to ask the consulate, your local registry office or a lawyer who knows Moroccan family law.
What our applications show: a marriage prepared now
Couples do not wait for the laws before making plans. According to our analysis of 697 applications from women who answered the question, received by DAR TISLIT in France (not in your country), 51% plan to marry within 6 to 12 months and 28% as soon as possible. Among men, 74.7% of the 198 who answered say they pray regularly, and 31% of the 201 who answered the question on their situation are divorced: profiles for whom custody and remarriage rules are no small detail.
The median age of 37, for both the 948 women and the 380 men, shows these are mostly settled adults with life experience. This data comes from France: it does not describe your country, but it reflects expectations many diaspora families recognise. More in How long before getting married? and Remarrying after divorce.
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Join the waiting list →How do you avoid falling for rumours?
Every reform announcement triggers videos saying «the law has changed». Three simple habits:
- Check the status: draft, passed or published in the Official Bulletin? Only publication makes it law.
- Look at the date of the information: this reform's timetable has already slipped several times.
- Distrust hurried advice («do it before or after the law»): there is currently no date of application. The same logic applies to the 5,000 dirham marriage grant that was announced.
DAR TISLIT is for people of Moroccan origin who want to marry seriously, with discretion and respect for each person's values.
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