The metaverse is digital space, like a virtual reality game. The term “metaverse” is not specific to any one game or software application. It is understood to mean a fictive space that may or may not have a real-life equivalent.
A person married to a certain partner in the metaverse may be legally married to a different person or even multiple people in real life. Whether a person can get married to several people at the same time in the metaverse depends on the rules of the roleplaying communities that they joined. Parties can also get an uncontested divorce in the metaverse. 
Individuals can have digital likenesses, or avatars, in the metaverse. When two people get married in the metaverse, the ceremony does not mean that they married in accordance with the laws of the state of Alabama. This is true even if the parties get married in a virtual location that looks like an actual place in Alabama, such as a beach in Gulf Shores. When two parties get divorced in the metaverse, any events or proceedings that occur in the metaverse do not cause a real-world divorce. Such happenings also do not cause a real and binding division of personal and real property.
As of August 29, 2019, Alabama provides that a marriage is legally recognized by the state if the parties complete and record a marriage certificate with their local probate court. Completion and recording of a virtual marriage certificate with a virtual copy of a local Alabama probate court in the metaverse does not count. The parties must actually record a real marriage certificate and pay real dollars to their local probate court.
The two parties getting married do not have to file an application for a marriage license with the county probate court. The court is no longer issuing marriage licenses. An Alabama marriage certificate is a contractual agreement that both parties must complete and deliver to the probate court for recording. After the probate court has completed and recorded the form, the marriage is valid. A marriage does not require a wedding ceremony to be valid. A marriage also does not require solemnization, or the taking of marriage-related vows during a ceremony.
An individual can find the form for an Alabama marriage certificate on the Alabama Department of Public Health’s website at: http://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/marriage-certificates.html. The form must be notarized and submitted with the filing fee required by the probate court. If the partners provide the certificate to the probate court in person, the court will accept cash, money orders, and debit cards. If the partners submit the certificate by mail, they may only pay by money order. Our Huntsville divorce lawyer can help advise you when getting a divorce in Alabama and the metaverse.
Attorney Steven A. Harris regularly blogs in the areas of family law, bankruptcy, probate, and real estate closings on this website. Mr. Harris tries to provide informative information to the public in easily digestible formats. Hopefully you enjoyed this article and feel free to supply feedback. We appreciate our readers & love to hear from you!