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Planning a destination wedding may seem daunting, but in the age of technology, you’re never more than a good Wi-Fi connection away from everything you need. The legal requirements for getting married in Ireland are relatively straightforward, and the good news is that legal marriages in Ireland are recognized all over the world, so you won’t have to fret about diving into yet another pile of paperwork once you get back home. Now, let’s take a look at what you’ll need to do before you say “I do”.

 

Notification Requirements

No matter what type of ceremony you’re planning (civil, religious, or secular), any couple planning to get legally married in Ireland must notify the Registry Office of their intent to marry at least three months before the wedding is due to take place. It’s not necessary to register in person at this point but it is highly recommended that you give this step plenty of time to make sure that you get everything off to the right start.

Usually, the Registrar will then allow couples registering from overseas to give notice of their intention to marry by mail. However, all couples will need to have made initial contact with the registered solemnizer (in the case of a civil or spiritualist ceremony), or the priest or celebrant (in the case of a religious ceremony), and organized their wedding ceremony date in order for the notification of intent to marry to be completed.

What documents will I need to register my intent to marry?

  • A valid passport.
  • Original birth certificates for both parties, plus a photocopy of each. Both of you need to be over the age of 18 in order to get married in Ireland.
  • Proof of address for both parties, in the form of an original utility bill or other appropriate document.
  • Where applicable in the case of a previous marriage, you’ll need to produce an original final divorce decree, a decree of nullity (with a court letter stating that no appeal has been lodged), a civil partnership dissolution, or a spouse’s death certificate (with the previous marriage certificate).
  • Information on whether the ceremony will be civil, religious, or secular.
  • The intended date and location of the wedding ceremony.
  • Details of the proposed registered solemnizer of the marriage.
  • The names and dates of birth of the two proposed witnesses to marriage, who must also be over 18 years of age.
  • The registration fee of €200. (Additional charges may apply to civil ceremonies which take place in a venue other than a Registry Office.)

Don’t forget – official documents such as birth certificates need to bear an Apostille Stamp verifying their authenticity, while official translations must be provided if the original documents are not published in English. If an Apostille Stamp is not obtainable from the country of origin, a letter from the Embassy stating the authenticity of the documents will be required.

 

 

Declaration of No Impediment to Marriage

The declaration of no impediment to marriage must be made in person. This can be completed with the Registrar on the same day as the notification of intent to marry, or if it’s not feasible to meet in person at this point, it can be completed any time up to five days before the wedding.  Once all of the necessary information has been supplied, and there is no impediment to the marriage, the Registrar will then issue you with a Marriage Registration Form.

Your Marriage Registration Form (MRF)

The MRF is an extremely important document – this is your license to marry, and is just as valuable as the sparkler you’re flashing on your fourth finger!  The MRF must be checked by the solemnizer prior to the wedding ceremony, so they can confirm that all details are correct, and the form must then be signed after the ceremony by the solemnizer, the couple, and the two witnesses. The MRF must then be returned to a local Civil Registry Office within one month of the wedding date for the married to be registered legally. Couples can purchase a marriage certificate at this point, currently priced at €20.

And that’s a wrap – you’re legally ready to go!

 

 

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