In some countries there exist religious courts which deal with matters pertaining to the personal status of members of the religion in question. These courts may have exclusive jurisdiction over matters such as succession, inheritance, wills, legacies, gifts, marriage, divorce and family relations. Individuals appearing before a religious court may be denied the rights and procedural guarantees which exist in other courts. Additional hardships may occur if a person does not belong to any of the religions whose courts have exclusive jurisdiction over the matter in question.