1. Apply for a Marriage LicenseApplication for a Philippine Marriage LicenseMarriage License: a requirement for either a Civil or Church wedding to be held in the Philippines. The Application Form for a marriage license must be secured at the Local Civil Registrar from the city, town or municipality where either the bride or the groom habitually resides. The personal appearance of those getting married is required in applying for a marriage license. Each of the contracting parties shall file separately a sworn application for each license with the proper local civil registrar. Philippine law prescribes a ten-day waiting period from the filing of the Application to the issuance of the marriage license. The license is valid for 120 days from date of issuance and may be used anywhere in the Philippines.At the time the contracting parties appear to file their application for a Marriage License to the local civil registrar, he or she must also submit the following supporting documents:1. Birth Certificate - Certified True Copy required of each the contracting parties with the respective registry number. This document is issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO).NOTE: NSO now provides a web service which accepts online application for copies of birth and marriage certificates. It is called the e-Census, a web facility aimed to provide Filipinos within and outside the country an alternative means in applying for copies of their civil registry documents. It also has a 24-7 hotline called the NSO Helpline Plus with telephone no. (632)737.1111. You could also reach them via email through: [email protected]2. Parents' Consent (for 18-21 years old) or Parent's Advice (for 21-25 years old): Under Philippine law, the legal age for marriage is 18. If the contracting parties are between the ages of 18 and 21, they must present written consent to the marriage from their father, mother or legal guardian. While any contracting party between the age of 22 and 25 must present written parental advice, i.e., a written indication that the parents are aware of the couple's intent to marry. Read Parental Consent vs. Parental Advice for a detailed discussion on the difference between the two terms. 3. Certificate of Attendance in a pre-marital counseling and family planning seminar conducted by the Division of Maternal and Child Health at the Municipal/City Hall in the same municipality or city where the contracting parties applied for the marriage license.FOR FOREIGNERS: Philippine law requires a citizen or subject of a foreign country to obtain a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage. It is issued by the diplomatic or consular offices of his or her country, prior to the issuance of a marriage license in the Philippines. This serves as a clearance or permit from the consul as an actual proof of the subject’s civil status and his/her eligibility for marriage.The LCR shall post a notice of the application for marriage license for 10 consecutive days at the office notice board. The license shall be issued after the completion of the publication, unless the LCR receives information of any alleged impediment to the marriage. IF any impediment to the marriage is reported, the LCR shall investigate the persons involved under oath. If he is convinced that there is an impediment to the marriage, he shall withhold the marriage license, unless otherwise ordered by a competent court.2. After applying your marriage license, the information given in the application will be posted for 10 consecutive days inside the city hall or the municipality in which the Philippine national habitually resides. The marriage license will be issued after the completion of this 10-day period (Family Code of the Philippines, Article 17). The marriage license, once issued, is valid in any part of the Philippines for 120 days. If it has not been used during this 120-day period it will then automatically expire (Family Code of the Philippines, Article 20)3. The marriage ceremony must be solemnized by an individual with the legal authority to perform such a ceremony. Upon the completion of the ceremony all participants (the presiding official, the witnesses, and the husband and wife) must sign the marriage certificate (Family Code of the Philippines, Articles 2-7).4. Following the signing of the marriage certificate by all parties involved, the marriage certificate must be sent to the city hall or the municipality in which the Philippine national habitually resides. It will then be registered by the local civil register. (Family Code of the Philippines, Article 23). Please remember to get certified true copies of the marriage contract from the local civil registrar. ***The Local Civil Registry of Manila City Hall will provide you all the requirements and step by step details of a civil wedding....
Show More