Wedding Requirements for Americans

IF YOU HAVE BEEN DIVORCED LESS THAN 300 DAYS FROM THE WEDDING DATE YOU ARE PLANNING WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH WEDDING PLANNING.

At first sight the paperwork requirements appear a confusing maze of bureaucratic nonsense but in fact there are only 3 items that are necessary to marry in Italy.

It consists of a meeting in front of the Italian Consulate with witnesses in which a declaration relative to the civil status (single, divorced etc…) of the couple is made. An official document is then drawn up to present to us for filing purposes here in Italy. You need to set an appointment yourselves with the Consulate and ask how many witnesses are required - it varies from location to location.

This peculiar word means that the original documents (birth and if applicable, divorce) presented to the Italian Consulate have been:

Sent to the Secretary of State's Notary Public of the state from which the document originally is from for authentication (or Apostille seal)

The APOSTILLE is simply the seal of the Notary Public of the State in accordance to the Hague Convention which means that the documents can be used officially even in a foreign country.

Example:
Jane Smith was born in Miami, Florida. She therefore sends her Birth Certificate to the Secretary of State's Notary Public office in Tallahassee requesting an Apostille. It is returned to her with the Apostille and Seal.

TRANSLATIONS
All birth and/or divorce certificates must be translated into Italian.
The translations are then authenticated by the Italian Consulate.

Is the final declaration to be made IN ITALY before the US CONSULATE or EMBASSY stating you are free to marry. Then this declaration must be authenticated in any Prefect's office. The 2 procedures do not take more than 1 morning most of the time but we require that your arrival be at least 2 to 3 weekdays prior to your wedding date to be safe. The requirement can vary from city to city so ask us specifically. Basically these are the main procedures, but we always advise you to contact the Italian Consulate in the US or relative country directly since each Consulate can vary slightly the timing and scheduling of all the above.

Listed below are the paperwork requirements. Each Italian Consulate does things just a bit differently and we always advise you check with them by calling which you need to do anyhow to set up an appointment for the Atto Notorio.

US passport
Birth certificate
If previously divorced, your divorce certificate

TRANSLATIONS REQUIRED

2 and 3 must be translated into Italian and Apostilled through the Secretary of State's Notary Public of the state the document originated in.

The translations are authenticated by the Italian Consulate. Our company does provide translation services.

ATTO NOTORIO

You must order the form from the Italian Consulate and/or call and find out when an appointment can be set up for this to be done. Some Consulates require only 2 witnesses per couple (not relatives) to witness the Atto while others can require up to 4 PER PERSON to appear (total of 8).

Fax us a copy to 011 39 432 941618 (in some cases a 0 is required after the 39) here in Italy so we can verify that everything is complete.
After we give the OK, you will then express mail all documents to our address in Italy.
KEEP A COPY OF YOUR DIVORCE DECREE, IF APPLICABLE, TO TAKE TO THE US CONSULATE IN ITALY when you arrive.

The ATTO NOTORIO in some cases MAY BE DONE IN ITALY but we prefer it be done in the US unless time does not permit you.

The last declaration is done in Italy before the US Consulate in Florence, Rome, Milano, Trieste (near Venice), Genova or Naples and we set up the appointment for you.

If you have been divorced less than 300 days from the proposed wedding date, there are further requirements to obtain permission to marry in Italy. Please inquire directly.



	back Wedding Requirements for Americans IF YOU HAVE BEEN DIVORCED LESS THAN 300 DAYS FROM THE WEDDING DATE YOU ARE PLANNING WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH WEDDING PLANNING. UNDERSTANDING THE PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS….. At first sight the paperwork requirements appear a confusing maze of bureaucratic nonsense but in fact there are only 3 items that are necessary to marry in Italy. Here are some clarifications for the most frequently asked questions…. 1. ATTO NOTORIO - what is it It consists of a meeting in front of the Italian Consulate with witnesses in which a declaration relative to the civil status (single, divorced etc…) of the couple is made. An official document is then drawn up to present to us for filing purposes here in Italy. You need to set an appointment yourselves with the Consulate and ask how many witnesses are required - it varies from location to location. 2. APOSTILLE of a DOCUMENT This peculiar word means that the original documents (birth and if applicable, divorce) presented to the Italian Consulate have been: Sent to the Secretary of State's Notary Public of the state from which the document originally is from for authentication (or Apostille seal) The APOSTILLE is simply the seal of the Notary Public of the State in accordance to the Hague Convention which means that the documents can be used officially even in a foreign country. *Example:* Jane Smith was born in Miami, Florida. She therefore sends her Birth Certificate to the Secretary of State's Notary Public office in Tallahassee requesting an Apostille. It is returned to her with the Apostille and Seal. TRANSLATIONS All birth and/or divorce certificates must be translated into Italian. The translations are then authenticated by the Italian Consulate. 3. NULLA OSTA Is the final declaration to be made IN ITALY before the US CONSULATE or EMBASSY stating you are free to marry. Then this declaration must be authenticated in any Prefect's office. The 2 procedures do not take more than 1 morning most of the time but we require that your arrival be at least 2 to 3 weekdays prior to your wedding date to be safe. The requirement can vary from city to city so ask us specifically. Basically these are the main procedures, but we always advise you to contact the Italian Consulate in the US or relative country directly since each Consulate can vary slightly the timing and scheduling of all the above. Listed below are the paperwork requirements. Each Italian Consulate does things just a bit differently and we always advise you check with them by calling which you need to do anyhow to set up an appointment for the Atto Notorio. DOCUMENTS NEEDED BEFORE STARTING US passport Birth certificate If previously divorced, your divorce certificate TRANSLATIONS REQUIRED 2 and 3 must be translated into Italian and Apostilled through the Secretary of State's Notary Public of the state the document originated in. The translations are authenticated by the Italian Consulate. Our company does provide translation services. ATTO NOTORIO You must order the form from the Italian Consulate and/or call and find out when an appointment can be set up for this to be done. Some Consulates require only 2 witnesses per couple (not relatives) to witness the Atto while others can require up to 4 PER PERSON to appear (total of 8). When the Atto Notorio is done and the Apostille also, you must: Fax us a copy to 011 39 432 941618 (in some cases a 0 is required after the 39) here in Italy so we can verify that everything is complete. After we give the OK, you will then express mail all documents to our address in Italy. KEEP A COPY OF YOUR DIVORCE DECREE, IF APPLICABLE, TO TAKE TO THE US CONSULATE IN ITALY when you arrive. The ATTO NOTORIO in some cases MAY BE DONE IN ITALY but we prefer it be done in the US unless time does not permit you. The last declaration is done in Italy before the US Consulate in Florence, Rome, Milano, Trieste (near Venice), Genova or Naples and we set up the appointment for you. If you have been divorced less than 300 days from the proposed wedding date, there are further requirements to obtain permission to marry in Italy. Please inquire directly.