FeaTURe
Cutting the
red tape
You’ve set the date, bought the dress and booked the hotel but have you given
the required three months’ notice of your intention to marry? Here, Anne whelton
decodes some of the legal jargon around the legalities of marriage.
arriage is a legally if all the information has been
M
binding contract that ireland, or have a state annulment supplied and is in order, and there is
will affect you and
;
or a valid foreign divorce no barrier to the marriage, the
your partner for the not be related by blood or marriage to Registrar will issue you with a
rest of your lives. a degree that would prohibit marriage. Marriage Registration Form (MRF)
Marriage laws can differ hugely from Once these conditions are met, you which gives authorisation for a couple
country to country so if you wish to are required to give notification in to marry in ireland.
marry abroad ensure that you contact person, to a Registrar, of your intention On the day of the marriage ceremony,
the embassy of the country involved to marry, at least three months before the MRF is signed by the bride and
early in your preparations. the intended date. When you book your groom, two witnesses and the registrar
For a marriage to be legal in ireland appointment, the Registrar will inform or celebrant, and should then be
there are a number of regulations set you what personal documentation returned to the Registrar within a
out by the state which you must follow and information about the wedding month of the ceremony so it can be
before you ever walk down the aisle. ceremony you need to bring with you on civilly registered.
The law states that to be legally the day of the appointment (see panel Once registered, you can apply for
entitled to marry, both parties must:
;
for general guidelines). you will also be your marriage certificate by filling out
;
Be over 18 years of age required to pay a notification fee of €150 a form available to download from the
;
Be of the opposite sex on the day. Don’t try and turn up at the general Register Office website. For
;
Freely consent to the marriage Registrar’s office and hope to be seen – more information visit www.groireland.
Be single, widowed or divorced in an appointment is essential. ie or locall 1890 252076.
Your Checklist
When you meet with the Registrar you original final decrees in respect of q PPS numbers q Your intended date of marriage
will be asked to produce: all previous divorces q Fee of €150 q The names and dates of birth
q Passport as ID q If widowed, death certificate of the As well as information on: of your witnesses
q Birth certificate previous spouse and the civil marriage q Whether you want a civil or q Details of the proposed
q If either party is divorced, the certificate for their first marriage religious ceremony solemniser and venue.
78 The WhiTe pages
TWP_43-86-EM 2.indd 78 28/07/2009 16:01:17
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