WEDDING LEGAL PAPERS

CIVIL WEDDING

You will need:

* A Valid passport, for the Bride and Groom

* Original Full Length Birth Certificate for both the Bride and Groom which should include:
-couple’s name & surname
-father’s / mother’s name & surname , mother’s maiden name

* Certificate of No Impediment form 268 (for U.K citizens) from your local registry office (not joint certificate)
Please note that this takes 1 month to process and in most cases is valid for 3 months only. It is important to ensure this certificate is valid at the time of your wedding.

* Original Degree Absolute carrying a black or red sealed court stamp, if either person has been previously married and now divorced. Also any former Marriage Certificates.

* Original Deed Poll is required if either party has had a name changed due to any reason, e.g. marriage of a parent.

* If previously married and have been reverted back to your maiden name, this constitutes a name change and therefore proof is required in the form of a deed poll or an affidavit. This document must be stamped and signed by a solicitor. It must be drafted on letter headed paper or have a compliment slip or business card attached.

* Original Death and marriage Certificate in respect of the deceased spouse, if either party is widowed.

* Original Adoption Papers, if either party has been adopted.

*If either party is less than 18 years of age, a certified Letter of Consent from both parents or legal guardians, confirmed by a solicitor, is required.

* If either party is a non E.U. citizen then they must contact their own consulate, to find if any further documentation is required. Please note that it is your responsibility to make sure that all the extra paper work is correct.

* All your Original Documents that have been legalized by the Commonwealth Office and their Translations in Greek**, that have been legalized by the Greek Consulate, plus photocopies of your Passports, must be hand carried to a resort, where you will be required to register with local authorities.

Important notes:
* Any documentation that is incorrect or incomplete, may lead to cancellation of your wedding, or delay the process, for which “Prosklisis” cannot be held responsible.

*In certain cases you will be required to sign in person after your wedding day at the Local Registry Office.

*Upon return to the U.K./hometown and in order to ensure that your marriage is legally recognized in your country, you need to lodge a copy of your wedding certificate with your local Register.

* Please note that for all weddings, the couple must be on the island at least 3 working days prior to the wedding date, to sign relevant applications and stay at least 3 working days after the wedding date.
**Translations in Greek
All documents require to be translated ONLY by Greek authorities, such as the Greek Consulate or Embassy (in your city or country), the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the local Lawyers Associations (at the destination point). An independent translator with notary stamp IS NOT accepted by the church. All translators should be approved by the Greek Consulate or Embassy.

Translation services can as well provided by us. All you need to do is to obtain your documents from the relevant offices, legalize them with the Apostille Stamp, and then leave everything else to us.

GREEK ORTHODOX WEDDING

The Church requires:
* Original Full Length Birth Certificate for both the Bride and Groom showing: Couple’s Name and Surname, father’s / mother’s name & surname, mother’s maiden name, date & place of birth and nationality.

* A certificate that gives consent and the freedom to marry, from the Greek Orthodox Church (otherwise known as the Letter of celibacy). This document should be given in Greek** and be signed & stamped from the priest of your parish thus there should be no need for translation. Validation of this document for the authenticity of the priest’s signature must be obtained from the Bishop of the local church.

* Baptism Certificates for both of you, signed & stamped by the parish priest. Validation of this document for the authenticity of the priest’s signature must be obtained from the Bishop of the local church.

* Divorce certificate/degree if any. Certificate to be obtained from the judge and from the church in case you previously had a Greek Orthodox wedding. The divorce degree requires translation in Greek**.

* You will both have to sign a paper in a notary office that your children will become Greek Orthodox (Certificate of Faith). Document must be in Greek.

* Single status letter/Letter of No Impediment (from your local register’s office/ town hall) for each of you, or marriage license. The Letters/Marriage license requires translation in Greek.

* A Legalized by the church or State Certificate that states that the couple has no relative bonds between them until 2nd degree.

* When one or both of the parties are divorced, they must obtain an ecclesiastical divorce as well in order to get married again in the Church.

* In case of mixed marriage, the non-Orthodox partner must be a Christian who has been baptized in the name of the holly Trinity. A marriage cannot take place in the Orthodox Church between an Orthodox Christian and a non-Christian.

The State requires:
After the wedding the couple must register the marriage in the Registry Office in Chania. In order to do this, they need to have with them the following:
* The marriage certificate signed by the officiating priest and bearing the official stamp of the church.

* Valid passports/visa of the couple.

* Photocopies of the passports/visa of the couple.

Important notes:
* All documents must be faxed to us at least 1 month prior to your arrival. At that time we will review the faxed papers with the priest in order to assess whether or not all documents are in order.

* Upon confirmation from the priest that all documents are in order, then you’ll need to courier/FedEx all original documents (in English & Greek) to us. For your safety, please send all documents by courier or registered mail only.

* Please note that for all Greek Orthodox weddings, the couple must be on the island at least 3 working days prior the wedding day (to meet the priest) and sign relevant applications and stay at least 3 working days after the wedding date.

* No more than a total three marriages will be allowed by the Church.

* In the case of mixed marriages between an Orthodox Christian and a non- Orthodox Christian, the marriage must be celebrated by an Orthodox Church according to the Orthodox tradition.

* The Sponsor (best man/koumparos or koumpara) must be an Orthodox Christian in good standing with the Church.

Days when marriage is not permitted
* Great Lent Holy Week and 40 days (feast days) before Easter
* August 1-15
* September 14 (Elevation of the Holy Cross)
* 40 days (feast days) before December 25th
exceptions to above can only be made by special permission of the Bishop of the Diocese.

Necessary for the ceremony:
* Rings for the bride and groom
* Stefana (crowns)
* Two white candles

**Translations in Greek
All documents require to be translated ONLY by Greek authorities, such as the Greek Consulate or Embassy (in your city or country), the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the local Lawyers Associations (at the destination point). An independent translator with notary stamp IS NOT accepted by the church. All translators should be approved by the Greek Consulate or Embassy.

Translation services can be provided by us. All you need to do is to obtain your documents from the relevant offices, Legalize them with the Apostille Stamp, and then leave everything else to us.

CATHOLIC WEDDING

The church requires
* Original Full Length Birth Certificate for both the Bride and groom showing: Couple’s Name & Surname, father’s / mother’s name & surname, mother’s maiden name, date & place of birth and nationality.

* A Baptism certificate. This document should be requested and dated close to your wedding date.

* A Confirmation certificate.

* Letter of Freedom from your own diocese in your country. This “Freedom to marry” certificate, document is the assurance that you are free from any canonical impediment for marriage.

The above certificates must be obtained from the parish priest in whom you are baptized. If the date of your confirmation is not written in the parish in which you were baptized, you should ask for it in the same parish in which you were confirmed.
Take these certificates to your present parish priest who should make the prenuptial inquires and catechetical instruction.

* Written permission must be obtained from your Bishop to have your marriage performed out of your parish and here in Crete. This is according to Canon 1115 of the codex Juris Canonici. Please discuss this with your pastor.

* Certificate stating you have completed “Pre-Cana” instruction class, retreat or meetings (marriage preparation course).

* Letter of Dispensation in case of a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic.
The state requires:
After the wedding the couple must register the marriage in the Registry Office in Chania. In order to do this, they need to have with them the following:

* Original full length Birth certificate for both the Bride and groom showing: Couple’s Name & Surname, father’s / mother’s name & surname, mother’s maiden name, date & place of birth and nationality.

* If there has been a change of name by either party, a copy of the Deed Poll Certificate is required.

* The marriage certificate signed by the officiating priest and bearing the official stamp of the church.

* Valid passports of the couple.

* Photocopies of the passports of the couple.
Important notes:
* If either party is divorced, a marriage in the Catholic Church is not allowed.

* All documents required by the state must be accompanied by legalized translations** and must have Apostille Affixed to the document and the translation.

* All documents must be faxed to us at least 1 month prior to your arrival. At that time we will review the faxed papers with the priest in order to assess whether or not all documents are in order.

* Upon confirmation from the priest that all documents are in order, then you’ll need to courier/FedEx all original documents (in English & Greek) to us. For your safety, please send all documents by courier or registered mail only.

* Please note that for all Catholic weddings, the couple must be on the island at least 3 working days prior the wedding day (to meet the priest) and sign relevant applications and stay at least 3 working days after the wedding date.

**Translations in Greek
All documents require to be translated ONLY by Greek authorities, such as the Greek Consulate or Embassy (in your city or country), the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the local Lawyers Associations (at the destination point). An independent translator with notary stamp IS NOT accepted by the church. All translators should be approved by the Greek Consulate or Embassy and legalized with the Apostille stamp .

Translation services can as well provided by us. All you need to do is to obtain your documents from the relevant offices, Legalize them with the Apostille Stamp, and then leave everything else to us.

VOWS RENEWAL
For those of you who are already married and wish to renew your commitment to each other after many years of being together, or have recently endured a difficult time, or just wish to share an intimated magic moment, the renewal vows ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate in a unique and personal manner.

As it is not legally binding ceremony there is no official documentation required, though you are still required to pay the Community and Handling Fees. The ceremony is conducted by the local Registrar first in Greek and then in English. You have the option of adding your own vows and/or readings if you wish to.

The “Apostille” / “Hague Stamp” legalization

An Apostille is a form of verification/Certificate that is used to document the competent Authority of the state from which the document originates, verifying the signature and seal of a notary or other public officer, so that the document bearing his/her signature and seal can take effect in countries which have ratified the Hague Convention for the Abolition of Consular Legalization of 1961. Notarization is a formality often require for documents which are to be used overseas, or for certifying document copies. Once a document has been notarized by a Notary Public, and if it is to be used overseas, it may need to be Apostilled. This means that the Notary’s signature and seal are certified by each country’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. But having a document legalized doesn’t mean that its contents are accurate, and it does not carry any sort of official approval by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will then attach an Apostille to the document. Once a document has been notarized and Apostilled, it then may need to be legalized by the Consulate of the country in which it will be used, if the country is not party to the Hague Convention.

Processing Documents / Contact: By post or In person
we recommend that documents are sent by recorded or special delivery.

for more information for the office in your country please click on the following link: www.apostilleinfo.com.

extras: www.prosklisis.com