How to have a marriage convalidated or acknowledged in the Catholic Church

Some Catholics choose to marry outside the church. The Catholic Church, however, will not recognize your marriage in the church and you should not continue to receive sacraments if the marriage has not been convalidated. If, for whatever reason, you are Catholic and did not marry in the church, here are the steps for having your marriage convalidated.

Things You'll Need

• Copy of Your Baptismal Certificate

Instructions

1. First, contact your priest and set up a meeting to discuss your situation. In the Catholic Church, each convalidation is handled as a separate matter and accessed to find out how the process should be completed by each individual couple.

2. During the meeting with your priest, you will be asked to fill out an inquiry form or marriage investigation. These questions will help your priest decide whether or not you will need to attend the pre-marriage counseling sessions normally required to marry in the Catholic Church. The priest will also determine if you need an declaration of nullity if either person was previously married.

3. The individual(s) in the marriage who were baptized Catholic will need a copy of their baptismal certificate. This can be obtained by calling the parish where the person was baptized and having a copy mailed to them or to the parish.

4. You will need at least one Catholic witness for the convalidation ceremony. Choose someone for the witness and then schedule a date with your priest to celebrate the convalidation.

5. Prior to the convalidation the priest may suggest the Catholic individual in the marriage, or both if both are Catholic, to celebrate the sacrament of Recogciliation.

6. Celebrate the convalidation. Depending on how your priest wants to handle the convalidation you can have a large or small ceremony. Most parishes have regulations on which songs and readings can be used for a ceremony so check beforehand and have all approved before the day of the convalidation.

7. You can also have a reception following the convalidation if you wish. This can be as large or small as you would like. Some married couples who originally did not have a large wedding choose to have a large celebration. Others opt for a small, intimate celebration.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't already belong to a parish, you can still set up an appointment to have a convalidation. Call and explain your situation and that you are interested in joining the parish following the convalidation ceremony.

• Catholics who were not married in a Catholic Church should not practice sacraments until after a convalidation ceremony.