a letter to that promises marriage does not suffice, partly because such letters have a reputation for being illegitimate. The marriage applies retroactively to the day before the deceased spouse died. Even if they were engaged and had published banns, a posthumous marriage will not necessarily happen, partly because living engaged couples can change their minds at the last minute. A posthumous marriage can also be thwarted by the testimony of a trustworthy individual. The judge's role is to make sure that the paperwork has been properly filled out. The judge cannot question the authority of the documents. Review of application Article 171 of the Civil Code requires that application refers to serious reasons for posthumous marriage. The President of the Republic carefully considers the seriousness of the circumstances of the death. Ceremony In France, a woman will often stand next to a picture of her deceased fiancé while the ceremony is taking place. The mayor conducting the ceremony will read the Presidential decree instead of the deceased man's marriage vows. Reasons The primary reason for the posthumous marriage in France is to legitimize children that a woman might have. It is also done for emotional reasons. In 2004, a spouse wrote a letter to The New York Times to let people know that they have the option of marrying their lost loved ones. She described the marriage as perfect and stated that “it remained in the spirit of a wedding”. Inheritance The law does not permit the living spouse to receive any of the deceased spouse's property or money. No matrimonial property is considered to have existed between the two living spouses. Effects After a posthumous marriage the living spouse inherently becomes a widow or widower. Posthumous marriage will also bring the surviving spouse into the family of the deceased spouse, which can create an alliance or moral satisfaction. The surviving spouse is also subject to impediments of marriage that result. Posthumous marriage also shows the strength of an individual to overcome a fiancé's death. Article 171 specifically states that the usual financial aspects of a marriage, such as liquidation of matrimonial regime or the granting of intestate inheritance (meaning the laws governing inheritances of people whose spouses die without a will) do not apply. The widow can, however, receive a pension and can be entitled to insurance benefits. Notable posthumous marriages Étienne Cardiles married his civil partner, French