MARRIAGE OF US CITIZENS IN ITALY
United States citizens wishing to be married in Italy must appear with two witnesses and an interpreter before the “ Ufficiale dello Stato Civile” (Civil Registrar) of the city or town where he or she plans to be married and must formally state his/her intention to marry. At this time the couple must present all the required documentation (see below) to the Civil Registrar, after which banns are usually posted at the local City Hall for eight consecutive days before the marriage may take place. However, banns are waived by the “ Ufficiale dello Stato Civile “ if neither party of the marriage is an Italian citizen and if neither party is residing in Italy.
On the fourth day (or any other successive date) after the banns have been waived, the couple may be married, either in a civil ceremony or a religious one.
A civil ceremony is performed by the “ Ufficiale dello Stato Civile” or one of his assistants.If a religious ceremony is performed by a Roman Catholic priest , a separate civil ceremony is not required, but the priest must register the marriage with the Ufficiale dello Stato Civile in order for it to be legal. Because of the special Italian requirements applicable to marriages performed by non Roman Catholic clergymen,the latter usually insists on a civil ceremony prior to performing the religious one so as to ensure the legality of the marriage.
The following documents must be submitted to the “ Ufficiale dello Stato Civile” by both parties when declaring their intention to marry:
The following documents must be submitted to the " Ufficiale dello Stato Civile " by both parties when declaring their intention to marry:
- VALID U .S. PASSPORT or American Armed Forces identification card;
- CERTIFIED COPY-LONG FORM OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE: TRANSLATED INTO ITALIAN AND LEGALIZED WITH ‘APOSTILLE’ (it must indicate the place and the date of birth, parents’ name, etc..., see #2 of the attached letter);
- If applicable, evidence of termination of any previous marriage such as certified copy of the divorce decree, annulment decree or death certificate of the late spouse (TRANSLATED INTO ITALIANAND LEGALIZED WITH ‘APOSTILLE’);
- A DECLARATION BEFORE AN AMERICAN CONSULAR OFFICE IN ITALY sworn to by the UnitedStates citizen, stating that in accordance with the laws to which the citizen is subject in the United States there is no obstacle to his/her marriage in Italy.
This document must be legalized by the competent Italian authorities in Italy (for more detailed information the U.S. Diplomatic Representative in Italy should be consulted);
- ATTO NOTORIO”. (see page 2 (two))This is a declaration, in addition to the sworn statement described in #4. above, stating that according to the US law, there are no obstacles to his/her marriage.
This documentis to be sworn to by two witnesses before the Italian Consulate in the United States.
Any U.S. citizen going to Italy for marriage, is urged to obtain it in the United States before leaving, but it can also be obtained in Italy at the local Court (Pretura civile) in the city where the marriage will take place.
* NOTE: The documents mentioned in #2. and#3. must be legalized with the “APOSTILLE”issuedby theSecretary of State where the certificates are originated.
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
In order to obtain from this Office the “Atto Notorio per matrimonio” (Sworn Affidavit) you must submit to this Consulate General the following documentation:
- PHOTOCOPY OF THE VALID U.S. PASSPORT, and CURRENT ADDRESS IN THE US;
- CERTIFIED COPY OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATES – LONG FORM (containing all relevant information: date and city of birth, parents’ name) translated into Italian and legalized with the APOSTILLE which is issued by the Secretary of State where the birth certificates are originated;
- NAME AND PERSONAL DATA OF TWO WITNESSES (name, date and place of birth, citizenship, current address, number of valid driver license) who have to appear in the presence of the Consul General to declare, under oath, that they know that the interested parties are free to marry and that, according to the US Law, there is no objection to the marriage.
IF APPLICABLE:
A. Certified Copy of the Divorce Decree signed by the District Judge (with 'APOSTILLE' and translated into Italian);
B. Citizens under age must present the Decree issued by the competent Minor Court,authorizing theminor to marry;
C. Widowers or Widows must present the Certified Copy of the Spouse’s Death Certificate (with ‘’Apostille’’);
Please note that documents under A. and C. must be duly legalized throughthe APOSTILLE from the Secretary of State and translated into Italian . This translation will be successively certified by this Office.
Women who have been divorced or are widows for less than 300 days have to require a specific authorization to marry from the competent Italian Court.
You are kindly requested to contact this Consulate General to schedule the appointment for you and the witnesses to sign the“ Atto Notorio “ and to get information about thecurrent consularfee.
APPOINTMENTS WILL BE GRANTED NOT EARLIER THAN TWO/ THREE WEEKS AFTER THAT COPY OFALL THEDOCUMENTS AND INFORMATIONS,AS MENTIONED ABOVE, HAS BEEN SENT BY FAX OR BY MAIL TO THIS OFFICE.
P.S.: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE “ATTO NOTORIO” CAN BE ISSUED BY OUR OFFICE ONLY FOR RESIDENTS IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ARKANSAS - LOUISIANA - OKLAHOMA – TEXAS.
IN CASE OF IMPOSSIBILITY TO CARRY OUT THE PROCEDURE BEFORE TRAVELING TO ITALY, THE COUPLE CAN HAVE THE ATTO NOTORIO DONE IN ITALY AT THE COURT OF THE MUNICIPALITY WHERE THE MARRIAGE IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE.
APOSTILLE
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