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Film star Eddie Murphy's beach marriage in French Polynesia this week is likely to be invalid, a lawyer in the territory has said.
A general law specialist in French Polynesia, Malgras Benoit, confirmed reports that Murphy and his 40-year-old fiancee, Tracey Edmonds, were ineligible to be married locally because they had not lived in the region for long enough.
Under French law people wishing to marry must reside near where the ceremony is to take place for at least 30 days before they tie the knot.
The couple reportedly arrived in French Polynesia by private jet at the weekend and were married on New Year's Day on a small islet near Bora Bora, a playground for wealthy tourists.
People magazine reported that the couple wed in a sunset ceremony on the beach in front of 25 family and friends.
Mr Benoit said the details indicated the wedding could not be recognised under French law.
"A marriage on the beach would be like ... a fake marriage. It's not a real marriage if it is on the beach with only a local priest," he said.
"I think it was just an exotic, artistic marriage. You need to have residence for at least 30 days - one month in the island of Bora Bora for instance - and this has not been the case."
Murphy, 46, has five children to his former wife Nicole, whom he divorced last year.
He also has a daughter with Spice Girls singer Melanie Brown.
- AAP
