Documents Needed to Get Married in the Catholic Church

Several important documents are required to be married within the Catholic Church.

As one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic religion, marriage is taken very seriously by the Catholic Church. In order to be married within the Catholic Church, a six-month preparation period must be observed, during which time the couple will have several meetings with a priest to ensure that they fully understand what being married within the Church entails. They will also use this time to gather the documentation required for a valid and sacramental Catholic wedding.

Records of Baptism and Confirmation

Each spouse will need to provide certificates of baptism and confirmation from the parishes in which these sacraments were administered. The documents must be issued within the six-month preparation period. If one of the parties is a non-Catholic Christian, an original baptismal certificate or affidavit from the baptizing minister will be accepted. Both parties must be baptized in order for the marriage to be viewed as sacramental and valid by the Church.

Civil Marriage License

In order for the marriage to be legal, the couple must have a valid marriage license from the state in which the marriage is to take place. Some states require the license to be issued by the county in which the marriage is to take place. These may be issued up to 60 days from the date of the ceremony.

Proof of Freedom to Marry

The couple must also provide a signed and witnessed document that attests to the freedom of each party to be married within the Catholic Church. If one of the parties has been previously married, the bishop must grant special dispensation for the marriage to be sacramental. If a Catholic marries a divorced person without special dispensation, the marriage is considered valid but not sacramental in the eyes of the Church.

Special Documents

Other documents may be required based on special circumstances. If the couple is getting married in a parish other than the one in which they are registered, they will require a letter from the priest of their home parish or parishes granting them permission to be married in another parish. In some dioceses, couples are required to attend marriage preparation courses or natural family planning classes. Certification of completion for these courses should be provided as required by the diocese.

References

• Old Saint Mary's Cathedral: Catholic Wedding
• Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference: Getting Married in the Church: New Requirements for Civil Registration