Getting married in Manila

[LiveLaughLove 2]

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to this forum and seeking some of your experiences with applying for a marriage license in Manila.

I made an appointment with the US Embassy in Manila for Affidavit to Contract Marriage. The lady I spoke with at the US Embassy provided me with the requirements in obtaining this affidavit. She was kind enough to provide additional details that in applying for a marriage license in Manila, my divorce papers need to be "authenticated" by the Philippine Consulate before city hall will accept my marriage license application. How true is this? She did reiterate that this is NOT a requirement of the US Embassy.

I've conducted several searches and am unable to validate this. I'm leaving for Manila next week and my divorce papers are certified original documents. Has anyone encountered this situation? I'd appreciate your responses.

Thank you all!

Edited January 5, 2011 by sweetheart428

[journey4life 0]

Good luck !

[SuperDuper! 230]

Don't overlook the fixxors to get the job done, good luck!

[LiveLaughLove 2]

Thank you for the well wishes

Also, my fiance resides in Mindanao and applying for the marriage license in Manila. From reading other posts, it seems he needs to be a "resident" where the marriage license application is submitted?

Thanks again!

[Atencio 43]

I took certified divorce papers with me but did not

get them authenticated as you indicate. I am not even sure what that means. Nevertheless, I would have your husband contact the Civil Register in the city you plan to get married in and get the exact requirements they want for a marriage license. From experience I can tell what is listed on the internet, what is mentioned here as requirements is not always what the Civil Register wants

As far as I know you have to get married where you live. What part of Mindanao does he live in. My wife is from Butuan.

Edited January 5, 2011 by Atencio

[Angeli 5]

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to this forum and seeking some of your experiences with applying for a marriage license in Manila.

I made an appointment with the US Embassy in Manila for Affidavit to Contract Marriage. The lady I spoke with at the US Embassy provided me with the requirements in obtaining this affidavit. She was kind enough to provide additional details that in applying for a marriage license in Manila, my divorce papers need to be "authenticated" by the Philippine Consulate before city hall will accept my marriage license application. How true is this? She did reiterate that this is NOT a requirement of the US Embassy.

I've conducted several searches and am unable to validate this. I'm leaving for Manila next week and my divorce papers are certified original documents. Has anyone encountered this situation? I'd appreciate your responses.

Thank you all!

My husband brought certified original divorce decree unauthenticated by the Philippine consulate and we had no problems when we applied for our marriage license last April 13th, 2010 in the Office of the Civil Registrar. If the lady you spoke with was right that could be a new policy.

[LiveLaughLove 2]

I took certified divorce papers with me but did get them authenticated as you indicate. I am not even sure what that means. Nevertheless, I would have your wife contact the Civil Register in the city you plan to get married in and get the exact requirements they want for a marriage license. From experience I can tell what is listed on the internet, what is mentioned here as requirements is not always what the Civil Register wants

As far as I know you have to get married where you live. What part of Mindanao does he live in. My wife is from Butuan.

Sorry I misread your post about authentication....:-)

My husband to be is from Zamboanga City.

Edited January 5, 2011 by sweetheart428

[Atencio 43]

Boy did I make a lot of typos in this last post

Did you get your documents authenticated by the Philippine Consulate?

Nope. I have never heard of that.

[Angeli 5]

Thank you for the well wishes

Also, my fiance resides in Mindanao and applying for the marriage license in Manila. From reading other posts, it seems he needs to be a "resident" where the marriage license application is submitted?

Thanks again!

I'm from Mindanao also, Dipolog City to be specific. From what I learned before, you have to apply for a marriage license at the Office of the Civil Registrar where your fiance resides.

[LiveLaughLove 2]

My husband brought certified original divorce decree unauthenticated by the Philippine consulate and we had no problems when we applied for our marriage license last April 13th, 2010 in the Office of the Civil Registrar. If the lady you spoke with was right that could be a new policy.

Thank you, Angeli

I'm hoping and praying for the best. The other issue I'm facing is his residency. Since he's not from Manila, I'm not really certain how to go about obtaining a marriage license unless we fly to Zamboanga.

[Angeli 5]

Thank you, Angeli

I'm hoping and praying for the best. The other issue I'm facing is his residency. Since he's not from Manila, I'm not really certain how to go about obtaining a marriage license unless we fly to Zamboanga.

My husband's workmate got married at the City Hall of Quezon City, Metro Manila even if his wife is from Leyte. I will try to ask how they were able to do that then I will let you know.

Edited January 5, 2011 by Angeli

[LiveLaughLove 2]

Boy did I make a lot of typos in this last post

Nope. I have never heard of that.

Thanks so much, Atencio. As the day draws near...my nerves are acting up!

[Atencio 43]

Thank you, Angeli

I'm hoping and praying for the best. The other issue I'm facing is his residency. Since he's not from Manila, I'm not really certain how to go about obtaining a marriage license unless we fly to Zamboanga.

That will be the tough one. My wife wanted to get married in Cebu and we might have been able to do it technically but they said that marriages are assigned by raffle numbers for the next week so that was out. Still even with that, we had to get the license in her home town.

[Atencio 43]

My husband's workmate got married at the City Hall of Quezon City, Metro Manila even if his wife is from Leyte. I will try to ask how they were able to do that then I will let you know.

That doesn't surprise me. Philippine laws like the Pirate Code seem more like guidelines for many matters. Always best to ask the source.

[George & Gina 29]

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to this forum and seeking some of your experiences with applying for a marriage license in Manila.

I made an appointment with the US Embassy in Manila for Affidavit to Contract Marriage. The lady I spoke with at the US Embassy provided me with the requirements in obtaining this affidavit. She was kind enough to provide additional details that in applying for a marriage license in Manila, my divorce papers need to be "authenticated" by the Philippine Consulate before city hall will accept my marriage license application. How true is this? She did reiterate that this is NOT a requirement of the US Embassy.

I've conducted several searches and am unable to validate this. I'm leaving for Manila next week and my divorce papers are certified original documents. Has anyone encountered this situation? I'd appreciate your responses.

Thank you all!

Your certified divorce decree/documents should not have to "authenticated" by the Philippine consulate unless your previous marriage was entered into in the Philippines. Philippines marriages that are ended by divorce in a foreign country have to be "authenticated" and registered as such in the Philippines.

At least that's the way I understand it.

George