In Mexico, only civil marriage is recognized as legal. Persons wishing to do so may also have a religious ceremony, but it has no legal effect and does not replace in any way the legal binding civil marriage. A civil wedding in Mexico is fully valid for legal purpose in the U.S. The Mexican civil registry does not issue marriage licences, it issues marriage certificates, because under Latin law, marriage is a legal right, not requiring a permit, marriages are performed without charge at the premises of the "Registro Civil" at the municipality hall of most counties and state houses in Mexico.[16]