Marriage legislation in Syria differs between Muslims, Christians and the Druze. A marriage or divorce needs to be registered at official religious family courts. Civil marriages cannot be contracted inside Syria. According to Syrian tradition, marriages are arranged through negotiations and understandings between families, but often on the initiative of the young couples themselves. Traditions vary from place to place and according to religion and class background. Because of the civil war, parts of the population are no longer able to register marriage and divorce, or to document individual civil status. The civil war has also caused changes to certain marriage traditions.