How to Get a Civil Marriage Recognized in the Catholic Church
If you were married in a civil marriage and would like to have your marriage brought into the Catholic Church you will have to follow the Catholic rules and beliefs on what constitutes a marriage. Depending on your circumstances, you can follow one of three different paths, or a combination of the three, to bring your marriage into the faith. Both members of the marriage need to be consenting adults who are willing to have children and are open to the Catholic faith. Bringing your marriage into the Catholic faith allows the Catholic to receive all the other sacraments.
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Instructions
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Two Catholics Married Outside the Catholic Faith
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Contact the Catholic church in which each spouse was baptized in and request a new copy of each spouse's baptism certificate.
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For each Catholic spouse, request a new copy of your confirmation records from the church in which you got confirmed.
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Obtain a new copy of your marriage records by contacting the state's vital record department or the city clerk of the town that you got married in to prove that you are civilly married.
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Contact the priest at the church that you want attend on a regular basis and set up an appointment. Explain that you were married outside of the Catholic Church and that you wish to have your marriage blessed in the Catholic faith.
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Attend your appointment with the priest and follow through with whatever directions he gives you. The priest typically will recommend that you attend marriage preparation classes and learn about the Catholic's views on marriage. Set up a date and time for the marriage to get blessed.
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Go to confession and confess your sins to the priest. Confession clears you of any sins that you performed in the past and is a part of the process of getting ready to have your marriage blessed in the Catholic church.
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Attend the marriage ceremony with at least two Catholic witnesses. It is required that witnesses attend a Catholic marriage ceremony. Say your wedding vows under the directions of the priest. The marriage will get recognized formally in the eyes of the Catholic Church.
One Catholic and One Non-Catholic
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Request a new copy of the Catholic's baptism and confirmation paperwork from the church or churches in which you got baptized and confirmed. Get a new copy of the civil marriage certificate by contacting the town clerk in the city in which you got married or the state's vital record office.
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Request a meeting with the priest of the Catholic church where you are a member or a local Catholic church and explain that you are married civilly and that one member of the marriage is not Catholic. Tell the priest that you would like the marriage convalidation ceremony so that your marriage will get recognized by the Catholic Church.
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Choose one of two options: the non-Catholic can become a Catholic and then the marriage can get recognized, or the priest can write the bishop and request approval for the marriage to get blessed in the Catholic Church. The bishop will approve it if the children will be raised in the Catholic faith and if both members of the couple understand what the Catholic vows mean to the Catholic spouse.
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Attend any marriage preparation classes that the priest recommends. For the Catholic spouse, attend confession to confess all sins before the marriage blessing takes place. The non-Catholic member of the marriage does not have to confess her sins.
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Arrange with the same Catholic priest for a time when the Catholic marriage blessing can take place.
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Go to the church and attend the marriage ceremony. Have two or more Catholic witnesses attend the ceremony. The priest will not complete the ceremony without witnesses.
Marriage After a Divorce
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Set up an appointment with the priest at the Catholic church where you are a member or where you wish to become a member and request an annulment for the previous marriages. Explain that you want to get the current marriage blessed in the eyes of the Catholic Church. Fill out the short "Lack of Cannon form" if the Catholic was previously married outside of the church in a civil marriage. Fill out the full annulment form if the Catholic was previously married in an approved marriage outside the church. Fill out the full annulment form if the non-Catholic was previously married because the church views all marriages by non believers as valid marriages. Include information such as when and where the marriages took place, when and where the divorces occurred and the names and addresses of all involved. The priest will have all the information to get the couple started.
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Get copies of divorce decrees from the courthouse where the divorce took place, current and past marriage records from the town clerk's office or the state's vital record office and baptism certificates and confirmation information from the church in which the Catholic was baptized and confirmed.
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Attend the tribunal hearing for the annulment and follow all directions that you receive from the Catholic tribunal. Wait until you have received your approved annulment from the Catholic Church before you set the date for the current civil marriage to get blessed.
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For Catholic spouse, attend confession to confess your sins to the priest. The non-Catholic member does not have to confess his sins. Attend any premarital classes that the priest recommends. Set up a date with the priest of your church for the marriage convalidation to take place.
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Attend the marriage convalidation at the church and arrange for two Catholic witnesses to be in attendance. The couple needs the witnesses for the priest to be willing to complete the ceremony.
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References
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