marriage in philippines

[j&ana 363]

where can a couple get married in the Philippines that is not too expensive? Can they get married in a courthouse, like in the U.S.A. Me and my fiancé was going to do the k3(fiancé visa) but was thinking that it might be better to get marry over there. I know I have to get a Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry" from the U.S embassy there and we have to wait ten days. I am going there in may for 20 days. Me and my fiancé(she lives in manila) was going to go to Bohol to spend time with her family the whole time. If we get marry there we would have to get marry in manila I believed since she lives there.so we will like to have a very inexpensive wedding ceremony. Then go to Bohol and have a nice wedding reception since most of her family are there. She does have one sister who is marry that also lives in manila that we can use for witness to the marriage

[HollyGolightly 72]

After securing an Affidavit of Legal Capacity to Marry, file an application for a marriage license at the office of the local Philippine Civil Registrar of the town or city where your fiancé resides. The U.S. citizen applicant will need to present the affidavit, death certificate or divorce decree, U.S. passport, and documentation regarding parental consent (age 18-21) or advice (over 21-25).

Normally there is a ten-day waiting period before the marriage license is issued by the registrar's office. The waiting period is necessary to give the registrar time to comply with the publication requirement of license applications. The names of the parties are posted to give the public the opportunity to oppose the license application (e.g. knowledge of incapacity due to prior subsisting marriage). In some instances the fiancée may apply in advance for the marriage license with the local civil registrar. The American citizen must then obtain the affidavit of legal capacity upon arrival in the Philippines and file it immediately with the civil registrar where the fiancée applied for the marriage license. A marriage license cannot be obtained by a fiancée without presence of the prospective spouse.

The marriage can be performed by a judge, justice of the peace, priest, or minister of any religious denomination where either or both of the parties belong. Courthouse marriages can be arranged for a small fee after the marriage license is secured.

[JbTin 51]

Hi there, you can just go for a civil wedding if you dont want it to be too expensive.

Since you will be here in the Phils for only 20days, i suggest that you secure your Legal Capacity AS SOON AS YOU ARRIVE (depends on what time of the day you are arriving though, and if embassy is open). It wont take long, we got ours in Cebu in just 45mins.

Once you have the Legal capacity, you should apply for a marriage license at your fiance's local civil registrar (make sure she checks the requirements and have them all ready before you arrive). After that, both of you will have to attend a seminar or counselling (can be done on the same day). As mentioned above , there is a 10-day waiting period before they issue the marriage license. BUT! You should also give some allowance coz that 10-day period is not a guarantee.

Once you have the marriage license....Congrats you can already marry your fiance! then go to Bohol and celebrate! Good luck!

Edited November 13, 2013 by krispykreme