Marriage Consult Philippines

Requirements:

• Certificate of legal Capacity to contract Marriage
• Additional requirements for U.S. Military Personnel
• The Marriage Application Process
• Civil Wedding

CERTIFICATE OF LEGAL CAPACITY TO CONTRACT MARRIAGE

Any foreigner who wishes to marry in the Philippines is required by the Philippine Government to obtain from his/her Embassy a " Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage' before filing an application for marriage license. This certification affirms that there are no legal impediments to the foreigner marrying a Filipino (i.e. that the foreigner is already married to someone else).Unlike the Philippines, the U.S. Government does not keep a central statistical registry of births, marriage and death and can not verify this information. Instead, the Philippine Government accepts an "Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage. American may execute this affidavit at the American Embassy in Manila or the U.S. Consular in Cebu. Personal appearance of the American citizen applicant can not be waived, but the fiancé(e) need not be present. Philippine authorities will not accept any substitute document initiated in the United States.

EXPALANATORY NOTICE TO BRITISH CITIZENS CONTEMPLATING A MARRIAGE TO A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES

1.      In May 1990 the Government of the Philippines enacted a law making it illegal to run a mail order or personal introduction business for matching Filipino women for marriage to foreign nationals. This was done to protect Filipino women from being exploited in their desire for economic improvement and in the interest of human dignity. Any British citizen contemplating marriage to a Filipino national should be aware that all such agencies are now prohibited by law in the Philippines.

2.      If you wish to marry in the Philippines you must produce, to the authorities, a Certificate of No Impediment stating that you are free to marry. This can be obtained from your local Registrar of Marriages in the United Kingdom, or from the British Embassy of the Philippines. In the latter case, in order to satisfy the provision of both Philippine and British law, it will require a minimum of 55 days for the Certificate to be issued at the marriage to take place during which time you must be resident in the Philippines.

CERTIFICATE OF LEGAL CAPACITY

Like other foreign national who wishes to enter into a contract of marriage with Filipino, the German national must apply for and receive a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage from the Consulate General of  Germany in Manila. This must be done prior to entering into a contract of marriage as required in accordance with Family Code of the Philippines, Article 21.

MARRIAGES LICENSE / CERTIFICATE

After securing the certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage both parties can now apply for marriage license at local of civil registrar of the municipality or city in which the Philippine national habitually resides. After posting for the prescribed period as provided in family code of the Philippines, Article 17.  Marriage ceremony can now be solemnized by individual with legal authority to perform such ceremony. Marriage certificate will be signed by both parties ,witnesses and solemnizing  officer .

I.   Applying for a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage

When a Japanese national wishes to enter into a contract of marriage with Filipino, the Japanese national must apply for and receive a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage from the Consulate General of Japan in Manila. This must be done prior to entering into a contract of marriage (Family Code of the Philippines, Article 21).

Before receiving the certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage the following must be presented:

Like other foreign national who wishes to enter into a contract of marriage with Filipino, the Korean national must apply for and receive a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage from the Consulate General of Korea in Manila. This must be done prior to entering into a contract of marriage as required in accordance with Family Code of the Philippines, Article 21.

After securing the certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage both parties can now apply for marriage license at local of civil registrar of the municipality or city in which the Philippine national habitually resides. After posting for the prescribed period as provided in family code of the Philippines, Article 17.  Marriage ceremony can now be solemnized by individual with legal authority to perform such ceremony. Marriage certificate will be signed by both party  ,witnesses and solemnizing  officer .